Citizens who have contributed to the culture and music of Trinidad and Tobago won eight of the 27 national awards for 2021.
A ceremony was held yesterday at the President’s House, St Ann’s, hosted by President Paula-Mae Weekes, to honor the recipients of the 2021 national awards.
The 2020 and 2021 national awards were postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The 2020 national awards ceremony was held on Monday where 36 people were honoured, including Dr Wayne Frederick who was awarded the country’s highest award – the Order of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago (ORTT).
No one received the ORTT at the 2021 awards yesterday, but there were five recipients of the country’s second highest award – the Chaconia Medal (Gold).
Among the five recipients was Beverly King, peer educator.
A release from the Office of the President said King has been influential in the lives of children living with HIV and has served the national community of people infected and affected by HIV and AIDS for more than 20 years.
Culture, calypso and the arts
Calypsonian SuperBlue (Austin Lyons) received the Hummingbird Award (Gold) for music and culture.
The announcement said Lyons won ten Road March titles and seven Soca Monarch titles in his contribution to T&T’s cultural landscape over the past 41 years.
Musician Michael Oliver Stanley Boothman was also awarded the Hummingbird Medal (Gold) for culture and the arts.
John Ernest Ferreira, retired, was awarded the Hummingbird Medal (Gold) for his contribution to the field of culture and the arts. Ferreira is the inventor/innovator of the double double pan and double tenor instruments.
He is also the founder of the steel bands Boys from Iwo Jima and Dixieland.
The Hummingbird Medal (Silver) was awarded to Kalisonian Brother Mudada (Allan Fortune) for his contribution to music and culture.
The Hummingbird Medal (Silver) was also awarded to Delamo (Franz Lambkin), a composer and calypso singer who has excelled in the category of social commentary.
Calypsonian Johnny King (Johnson King) received the Hummingbird Medal (Silver).
The same award was given to the calypso king Luta (Morel Peters) in the field of music and culture.
Women’s awards
Three women received medals for the development of women.
The Women’s Development Medal (Gold) was awarded to Rev Joy Abdul-Mohan.
The release said Abdul-Mohan is an activist and fighter for women’s issues, including gender-based violence, abuse of women and the education of young girls.
Another gold medal was awarded to Senior Legal Counsel Gaietry Pargass, a staunch activist and professional advocate for women’s rights. She is a founding member of two feminist organizations in Trinidad and Tobago: Women Concerned for Progress founded in 1980 and The Feminist Group founded in 1983. She has worked for over 30 years on legislation related to human rights and human rights of women and children.
The Silver Medal for Women’s Development was awarded to education consultant Sherna Alexander Benjamin.
Alexander-Benjamin, said the release, is an advocate for women and children, and the prevention of interpersonal violence at family, community and broader societal levels.
Gallantry Award
The Hummingbird Medal (Bronze) was awarded posthumously to Fire Officer Stephen Marcano for gallantry.
Marcano was a member of the Trinidad and Tobago Fire Service for 11 years.
The release said he put the lives of others first when he waded into the waters of Mayaro to help relatives who encountered difficulties while bathing.
Public service
Retired Permanent Secretary Vishnu Dhanpaul was among the three public servants who received the Public Service Merit Medal (Gold).
The release said he had the respect and trust of successive governments during his tenure in the Public Service and built a name as an influencer in the private and public sectors.
