No Trinity Cross winner

Sources yesterday told Newsday it is likely that there will be no top national award this year. Maha Sabha head Sat Maharaj, whose organisation succeeded in getting High Court judge Justice Peter Jamadar to declare the Trinity Cross unconstitutional and offensive to non-Christians, yesterday said he did not think there would be a top award this year.

After the Jamadar ruling, Prime Minister Patrick Manning set up a committee to probe the issue of national awards and observances, and said a replacement would be ready for this year’s national awards. But one week before Independence Day, the country is still unaware of the recommendations and proposals of the committee and whether Manning would accept them. If the proposals were accepted, there might not be sufficient time to organise a design for a new medal.