Calypso icon David Rudder was awarded the Order of the Caribbean Community, considered the region’s highest award.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and CARICOM Affairs said in a statement that Rudder received the Order at a ceremony at the Diplomatic Center in Port of Spain on Wednesday (10 August), following a decision taken by the CARICOM Heads of Government at the CARICOM Heads of Government of 43rd. Conference held in Paramaribo, Suriname in July 2022.
The ministry said Rudder was not available to attend that event and so the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, together with the CARICOM Secretariat, presented the award at a special function on Wednesday.
Allison Drayton, Assistant Secretary General of Human and Social Development of the Caribbean Community praised Rudder for lifting the spirits of the region. She noted that everyone felt Trini to the bone as a result of his music.
In a pre-recorded speech, Surinamese President and Caribbean Community Chairman Chandrikapersad Santokhi thanked Rudder for his outstanding contribution to calypso and the region.
Minister of Foreign Affairs and CARICOM Affairs Dr Amery Browne presented Rudder with the award and delivered from the podium a detailed Citation praising his stellar contribution as a “cultural icon in the social fabric of Trinidad and Tobago and the Caribbean as a whole”.
The Minister praised the breadth and longevity of Rudder’s work and included specific reflections on the profound impact of Rudder’s seminal work in 1986 when his album “The Hammer” burst into the consciousness of Trinidad and Tobago and the world.
Dr Browne’s presentation also highlighted that Rudder’s clarion call for the West Indies Round Rally remains cemented as an emotional anthem for West Indies cricket to this day.
In accepting the award, Rudder sincerely thanked the Caribbean Community and the Government of Trinidad and Tobago for the honor and advised the youth to keep learning and never give up.
Background on the Order of the Caribbean Community
Initiated in 1987 during the Eighth (8) Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community, the Order of the Caribbean Community is awarded to Caribbean nationals whose contributions to the development of the region are considered outstanding.
At the 43rd Conference of Heads of Government held in Paramaribo, Suriname, three other awardees were awarded the Order of the Caribbean Community, namely, Irwin LaRocque, former Secretary General of the Caribbean Community; Sir Vivian Richards, cricketer; and Dame Billie Miller, former Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Barbados.
The Order of the Caribbean Community represents the highest award in the region and is conferred with great pride and joy. The prize can only be held by 15 living winners at any one time. Prior to 2022, the OCC had not been approved for 10 years.
Privileges and rights:
- Members of the Order of the Caribbean Community enjoy the following privileges and rights, among others:
- The award is styled The Honorable to the recipient and post-nominal OCC.
- Members of the Order are granted the privilege of free movement between the Member States of the Community and are provided with a travel document which has been assigned a status similar to a diplomatic passport.
- The right to reside and be gainfully employed in any Member State, as well as the right to acquire and dispose of property, as citizens of Member States would.
