Happy Independence to our Republic!

Pomp, pageantry, fire-works and scared dogs. Not necessarily in that order of merit but essentially the Order of Trinidad and Tobago (formerly the Trinity Cross). The recipients of this year’s National Awards are:

Karl Hudson-Phillips QC

Pundit Krishna Maharaj (posthumously)

Wahid Ali (posthumously)

CHACONIA MEDAL GOLD

Executive director Gregory Ramkissoon (Community Service)

Retired banker Ronald Harford (Business)

Masman Brian Anthony Mac Farlane (Culture?)

Head of Maha Sabha Satnarayan Maharaj (Religion)

Retired biologist Prof Julian Stanley Kenny (Environment Conservation)

Former MP and Minister Errol Mahabir (National Service) 

Chaconia Medal (Silver)

Prof Zulaika Ali: Medicine
Claudia Pegus: Fashion
Margaret Elcock: Religious education

Humming Bird Medal (Gold)

Andrew Ganteaume: Sport
Don Jacob: Sport
Dennis Pantin (Posthumous): National development
John Arnold: Culture
Bishop Clive Abdulah: Religion

Humming Bird Medal (Silver)

Dr Nasser Mustapha: Community service
St John’s Trace Ramleela Committee: Culture
Wayne Chance: Community service
Patricia Roberts (Posthumous): Community service
Harripersad Dass: Community service
Augustine Ribeiro: Sport
Ronald Greene: Sport/Powerlifting
Sheila Sawh-Gowkaran: Community service

Humming Bird Medal (Bronze)

T&T Women’s Cricket Team: Sport

Public Service Medal of Merit (Gold)

Premchand Sookoo: Public service
Dr Nicholas Bennie Tia-Okwee: Medicine
Joe Sirju: Education
Dr Rampersad Parasram: Medicine
Esmond Farfan: Business

Public Service Medal of Merit (Silver)

Lyle Donawa: Public service
Beulah Duke: Public service
Lennox McKay: Public service
Carlo McHoney: Public service
Roopnarine Rambachan: Law
Vernon Ramesar Snr: Education

Public Service Merit (Bronze)

Zahir Akaloo: Public service
Cynthia Toney: Public service

Whilst there are some I know of, some I don’t and some I agree with and some I don’t the presentation of National Awards every year is probably the highlight of our Republic’s Independence celebration. Fire-works being the other (if not THE highlight). The act of recognizing those who by their actions contributed to the evolution of our post-colonial state with meritorious service is laudable. For those deserving, congratulations. And those not, well that’s just my opinion. And those I don’t know about, well I hope to find out more about you, and I hope you are deserving.

Nation building, progressiveness and evolution rests squarely on the shoulders of those honored. Where the process fails is in its delivery. The one day or two hours reserved for honoring our patriots does little to achieve what its objective should be. In a society sorely lacking in everything from morality to manners the promotion of and elevation of the few role models we have is essential. Why must we wait until the day before to find out who the honorees are?

For those, like me who don’t know of many of the honorees it must be incumbent on the state to use the opportunity to promote the ideals we seek in the Republic as a whole.

 What I suggest is that determinations should be made long before Independence Day and the resources of the GISL be used to profile each individual so as to better celebrate and more importantly “educate and inspire a culture of national pride”. This public drive should seek to establish a public space that others can use to foster aspiration and cultivate patriotism. The social impact whilst beneficial in many facets should primarily be seen as an assault on the ills that plague society and part of the framework for remedying them.

Most problems have solutions. Tweaking of and expansion of embedded systems through innovativeness are initial steps to be taken. Formulating fancy vision and mission statements and not recognizing the opportunities to fulfill them lacks vision. The GISL by having and continuing to disavow its core values, mission and vision provides little value to the Republic and will continue to be seen as a propaganda machine for electioneering. After 48 years of independence shouldn’t we as a Republic matured, even just a little bit?