Dead cop, armless girl, Bovell, Ames, get National Awards

A POLICEMAN killed in the line of duty, an inspirational female student born without arms, an Olympic bronze medallist and a girl who saved a blind woman from certain death — each a hero in their own right — feature prominently among 28 persons and four groups who will receive national awards at President’s House today at 6 pm.

Former President Arthur NR Robinson’s bodyguard, Ag Insp Edward Williams will receive the Humming Bird Medal (Gold) posthumously for bravery, gallantry and loyalty. Williams was murdered at a dinner party which Robinson was attending in St Augustine earlier this month.
At Williams’ funeral, the former President appealed for Williams to receive a posthumous award for sacrificing himself to save him and the other dinner guests on that fateful night.

Two students also top the list of national award recipients. Veera Bhajan, who overcame the handicap of being born armless to obtain seven CXC distinctions in this year’s Ordinary Level examinations, receives a Humming Bird Medal (Silver) for youth inspiration and development. Another student, Rhonda Charles, receives a Humming Bird Medal (Silver) for risking her life to save a blind woman from a burning building. Swimmer George Bovell III won a bronze medal at the just-concluded Olympic Games in Athens but for becoming the only person from the English-speaking Caribbean to win an Olympic medal in swimming, he will receive the Chaconia Medal (Gold).

Sports Minister Roger Boynes and other Government officials had hinted that Bovell, who previously received a Humming Bird Medal (Gold) for his achievements in swimming, would be honoured once again. Golfer Stephen Ames has also been awarded a Chaconia Gold Medal. Businessman Arthur Lok Jack and Petrotrin chairman Malcolm Jones will each receive Chaconia Medals (Gold) for their contributions to business and national economic development respectively. The Malick Folk Performers and Clico Shiv Shakti Dance Company will each receive the Chaconia Medal (Silver) for achievements in culture.

Veteran musician Roy Cape, artiste Allyson Brown and personal development specialist Jacqueline Koon How, will each receive the Humming Bird Medal (Gold) for their contributions to culture. This year, no one will receive TT’s highest honour — the Trinity Cross — but seven persons will receive the nation’s second highest honour, the Chaconia Medal (Gold). Certain segments of the society believe the Trinity Cross should be removed as TT’s highest honour because it is offensive to the nation’s non-Christian denominations. Last night, the Global Organisation of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO) launched a parallel national awards ceremony at the Divali Nagar site in Chaguanas. 

Opposition Leader Basdeo Panday supported those awards, claiming the current national awards system did not take the contributions of all citizens into account. On April 25, 2003, Prime Minister Patrick Manning said government would address concerns related to the Trinity Cross but noted that as prime minister, Panday never addressed these concerns.