Since 2008, 20 distinguished citizens have been awarded this country’s highest honour—the Order of the Republic of T&T (ORTT).
The 18-carat yellow gold award hangs from a short, striped gros-grain ribbon in the national colours.
It is only awarded in gold and is limited to five recipients or fewer, each year. The initials ORTT are to be used by future holders of this award after their names.
Of the 20 recipients in the last eight years, five were awarded posthumously—to Giselle Salandy (2009); Dr Wahid Ali and Pundit Krishna Maharaj (2010); George Chambers and Adrian Cola Rienzi (2012).
Bertram “Bertie” Marshall (2008); Karl Hudson Phillips, SC (2010); Kamaluddin Mohammed (2010); and Ulric Cross (2011) have died; while 11 other recipients are still alive. They include Zalayhar Hassanali, wife of former president Noor Hassanali; Chief Justice Ivor Archie; and Olympic gold medallist Keshorn Walcott.
After its US$25,000 bid on eBay, the ANSA McAL Group was able to secure the ORTT award of trade unionist Rienzi and bring it “back to T&T.”
Sunday Guardian spoke with four of the 11 recipients who shared their thoughts about what the award meant to them.
Hassanali: I’ll leave it
for my children who’ll cherish it
Zalayhar Hassanali said she would never sell her award. Honoured to have received the country’s award for her volunteer work spanning over 60 years, she said if the Government didn’t think she deserved it, she would not have got it.
“If the powers that be felt I deserved it, then I am honoured to be a recipient of it,” she said.
Hassanali said she wore it when she received it and has not worn it since, but she treasures it.
She said she would leave the award for her children who would cherish it the same way she did.
Commenting on the sale of the award, she said, “The person who had it did not have the same affection for Trinidad and Tobago, I think.
“It is a posthumous award. I don’t know what the reason is, but I am glad it is back in Trinidad and Tobago and I think we are grateful to ANSA McAL for acquiring it.”
Mcleod: It's worth
more than money
Former labour minister and trade unionist Errol Mcleod, who received the award in 2015, said the ORTT was so invaluable that he could not imagine what monetary value someone would put on it.
He said he certainly would not put his up for sale. “I value it so much that I will wear it to only very special functions and on very special occasions.”
Considering the sale of the Rienzi award, Mcleod said he would not want to leave his “idly” even though he has the greatest trust in and regard for his children who are now adults.
He suggested that perhaps when the medal was awarded posthumously, a symbolic presentation be made to the representative of the awardee but that it immediately be taken and put in some special place where it could be recognised by all of T&T.
Mcleod said, “I will find it really ridiculously degrading for Trinidad and Tobago to have its highest award put up for auction because somebody wants to make some money off of it. This thing is worth more than money.”
Deosaran: I will never pawn it or sell it, it’s to inspire others
Professor Emeritus Ramesh Deosaran said it felt good to know that people were noticing his work and public service over the years.
He said, “More than that, when awards like this are given to educators and public servants, it helps inspire others, which is what the country needs most of now. But our work continues.”
Deosaran said his 2013 award was hidden away and his family quarrels with him for not wearing it in public or, moreso, at national functions.
He said, “I feel strange doing so but on hearing all the arousing comments made about this award recently, I think I will consider wearing it.”
Whether he will sell or pawn it, Deosaran said never.
He said if not physically, certainly in spirit, the award still belonged to the country and its citizens.
“This award came from the high officials who represent the population. I consider this was given on the population’s behalf. So yes, it does have great sentimental value as I am sure it has for all those who have been awarded.”
He said a degree of modesty must also be kept in mind though.
If a time comes for him to donate or give it away, Deosaran said he would consider an underperforming all-male secondary school to show the boys what was still possible in T&T.
He said, “The purpose of such an award is not only to celebrate a person but really to inspire others.”
Dookeran: ORTT not considered important by the population
Former political leader of the Congress of the People and Central Bank governor Winston Dookeran, who was awarded last year, said he would neither sell his award nor would he wear it because “people don't consider it.”
He said, “I don’t think the award is the medal. I think the medal just reflects what the award was meant to be. You can’t leave it to anyone. It is recognition of your contribution and work to the country.”
Dookeran received the award for his contribution to economics. He said people were not aware of the award, what were the criteria for the selection, or the protocol of the award.
He said, “I was disappointed to hear the President taking a legal interpretation to this thing.
“It is not a matter of law but there must be a protocol as they do in other countries where they state what are the entitlements and obligations.”
Dookeran said the medal was merely the physical aspect of the award.
He said he shies away from letting people know he has an award because his impression was that the population did not consider it important.
He said except for the day he received it, he has never worn it. As for selling it, the former minister of finance said he would not consider that.
“I think if someone does not want it, it should be returned. I am surprised to hear it was sold. What does ‘remain here in Trinidad’ mean in this globalised world? That’s not an argument to buy it,” he said.
Dookeran described the sale and purchase of the medal as nonsensical.