Wife: It’s a shame Chaconia Medal came after Andre’s death

Musician and cultural icon Andre Tanker who passed away earlier this year has been awarded The Chaconia Medal (Gold), the country’s second highest award which, according to his relatives, is long overdue.

“It’s a shame that it has to be posthumous,” his wife Christine Tanker told Sunday Newsday, “I’m really sorry he is not alive to receive it himself, but I think he would’ve been very honoured for his life’s work.” Tanker was awarded for his long and meritorious service to Trinidad and Tobago in The Arts and Music in celebration of the country’s 41st Independence anniversary. Tanker’s daughter Zo-Marie Tanker-Isava said her father’s award was “well deserved.” “We’re extremely honoured. This means that people have and are beginning to realise his contributions to culture and the many lives he has touched,” said Isava. The Tankers celebrated the occasion last evening with dinner at TGI Fridays and next month on his 63rd birthday, will host the tribute concert “Making of a Lion” at Mobs II, Chaguaramas.

Mrs Tanker will receive the award on her husband’s behalf. Double gold and silver medallist at the recent Pan Am Games in Santo Domingo swimmer George Bovell III, has been awarded The Hummingbird Medal (Gold) for Sport. Speaking on behalf of his son, who is away at Auburn University in Alabama, USA, George Bovell said that the award came as a “surprise.” He added: “We are honoured to receive an award of that stature.” His mother, Barbara, will receive the award on his behalf. Calypsonian Winston Bailey, The Shadow will not be in attendance at the Independence Awards ceremony tonight to receive his Humming Bird Medal (Silver). The one-time Soca Monarch has been honoured for his contributions to music. Currently, he’s away at the Labour Day celebrations in New York.

Also receiving Humming Bird Medals (Silver) tonight are airline pilots Jean Talma and Wayne Crooks for Community Service. The two sailed around Trinidad in a kayak to raise funds for cancer victims on their own initiative. They were successful in raising over $150,000. “They were really, really surprised... They’re quite staggered because they didn’t realise how much they’ve affected people because they always saw themselves as reluctant heroes, they’ve been really modest about their feat,” said wife, Phillippa Talma. When Sunday Newsday contacted Shireen Dewan-Mc Ken she was choosing out her dress for tonight’s event. Mc Ken, a housewife, dental nurse and social worker has been awarded The Public Service Medal of Merit (Silver). “I’m a little nervous. I am absolutely thrilled,” she said. “Today is a day of reflection for me. I feel a sense of sentiment for cancer patients who I once knew and are no longer alive. I am flooded with emotions.” For 20 years, Mc Ken has been working with cancer patients in the area of anger management, grief and bereavement “and helping them to cope with psycho/social needs.” She was also the orientation teacher at the St Judes Home for Girls where she introduced coping skills for inmates in penal institutions. See full list of award recipients on page 5