Wilhelmina finally views Trinity Cross

After Mina’s story appeared in Sunday Newsday’s People magazine of June 18 , in which an appeal was made to those who had received this award to take the medal to show this woman who is now physically handicapped, Joyce Ramcharan, daughter of the late Arnold Thomasos, took her father’s award to show Mina. She was accompanied by councillor Karen Nelson of the Arima Borough Council.

Thomasos was a member of Parliament for 25 years, during which time he served as Deputy Speaker for five years, and Speaker of the House for 20 years. He was awarded The Trinity Cross, the highest in the country, in 1976, for Community Service. Thomasos died in 1996. His daughter was quite clear that the change of the Trinity Cross for changing sake did not make sense to her.

As to Mina, who received the handsome sum of $200 in bonds for winning the competition, Sunday’s experience brought “a feeling I really cannot quite explain after all these years. I am indeed grateful to you and thankful to Joyce Ramcharan, who was so charming and brought along her councillor friend and the picture of her father receiving the award.” Mina was a cataloguing typist with the Central Library Services, and would often do displays for the library. This led to encouragement from her colleagues to enter the competition. She also submitted entries for the Chaconia and Humming Bird medals.