Sherman Maynard, the 27-year-old police constable, who was killed in the line of duty during the prison break at the Port-of-Spain State Prison last month, is one of five persons who will receive the Humming Bird Medal (Bronze) at tonight’s Independence Day award ceremony. Maynard’s family is expected to collect the posthumous award on his behalf a little over a month after he was shot dead by three prisoners during their midday escape from the Frederick Street prison on July 24.
Maynard was fatally shot as he confronted Allan “Scanny” Martin, Christopher “Monster” Selby and Hassan Atwell. Martin was eventually killed by Maynard’s colleagues, while Atwell was found murdered in East Dry River two days later. Selby eventually surrendered. The late police officer is one of three members of the protective services to receive the award for gallantry this year. The other awardees are Private Fernando Smith and Sub-Lieutenant Edric Hargreaves.
Smith, a member of the T&T Regiment, was instrumental in the rescue of his colleague Private Andrew Gittens who was wounded in a shootout with gunmen in Laventille in December last year. They were on patrol in the Clifton Hill area when they were caught in the shootout. Gittens was wounded in the exchange and Smith risked his life to pull him out of the line of fire and to a safe location from where he was safely transported to hospital for treatment.
Hargreaves, a diver with the T&T Coast Guard, earned his award after completing a one-man rescue mission for a family of seven who were on board a sinking ship in Chaguaramas in July last year. He had just finished his shift at the Coast Guard’s Staubles Bay headquarters when he noticed the vessel sinking off King’s Bay in Chaguaramas.
After contacting his colleagues for assistance, Hargreaves swam out to the distressed family members, who were wearing life-jackets, and assisted them in getting to shore safely. He managed to complete the task before his colleagues arrived on the scene in their high speed interceptor vessels.
The relatives rescued were later identified as six-year-old Aaliyah Sankar Singh; Keston Sankar Singh, 13; Tristan Sankar Singh, 15; Sebastian Sankar Singh, 13; Onesha Grant, 21; Cheryl Sankar Singh, 43; and Allan Sankar Singh, 40. Smith and Hargreaves will receive their awards alongside four-year-old Kal-El Alleyne, of Santa Cruz, who is likely to be the youngest ever recipient of a national award when he collect his medal this evening.
Alleyne shot into the limelight almost two weeks ago after playing a vital role in the rescue of his mother and aunt after the family’s car tumbled off a 300 foot precipice along the North Coast Road in Maracas. With both adults trapped in the wreckage, the pre-schooler, who was injured, managed to get out of the wreckage and scale the steep precipice to get help for his relative.
Independence awards for 33 citizens
Two ministers in the current People’s Partnership administration head the list of recipients of National Awards this year. Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Dookeran and Labour Minister Errol McLeod are among 33 citizens who will be honoured at a ceremony at Queen’s Hall this evening.
The full list is as follows:
THE ORDER OF THE REPUBLIC OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
1. Mr. Winston Chandarbhan Dookeran—Economist— Economics
2. Mr. Errol Kelvin McLeod—Minister of Labour/Former Trade Unionist—Trade Unionism
THE CHACONIA MEDAL (GOLD)
1. Mrs. Daphne Bartlett—Businesswoman - Business
2. Mr. Selby Wilson—Telecommunications Strategist/former Minister of Finance—National Service
3. Mr. Reynold Cooper—Retired Permanent Secretary/Head of the Public Service—Public Service
4. Mr. Victor Emmanuel Mouttet—Managing Director - Business
THE CHACONIA MEDAL (SILVER)
1. Dr. Vincent David Lasse—Chairman, PTSC— Community Service
THE HUMMING BIRD MEDAL (GOLD)
1. Dil-E-Nadan - Orchestra—Culture
2. Bro. Harrypersad Maharaj— President of the Inter-Religious Organisation (IRO)—Religion
3. Mr. Noble Salahudin Ahamad Khan—Former IRO President—Community Service
4. Mr. Dwayne John Bravo—Cricketer—Sport
5. Mr. Karran Nancoo—Justice of the Peace— Community Service
6. Professor Dilip Dan—Medical Practitioner—Medicine
HUMMING BIRD MEDAL (SILVER)
1. Mr. Fred “Composer” Mitchell—Calypsonian—Culture
2. Mr. Victor Hart—Retired Chartered Quantity Surveyor—Community Service
3. Mr. Kelwyn Norman Hutcheon—Retired Pharmaceutical Manager—Culture
4. Mr. Andrew “Lord Superior” Marcano—Calypsonian—Culture
5. Professor Christopher Francis—Professor in Martial Arts—Culture
6. Mr. Anthony “All Rounder” Hendrickson—Calypsonian—Culture
7. Mrs. Sharlene Flores—Parang Singer—Culture and Music
HUMMING BIRD MEDAL (BRONZE)
1. Mr. Jason Vincent—Banker—Sport
2. Master Kal-El Joel Maxwell Alleyne—Pre-Schooler—Bravery/Gallantry
3. Private Fernando Smith—Soldier—Bravery/Gallantry
4. Sub Lieutenant Edric Hargreaves—Military Officer—Bravery/Gallantry
5. Police Constable Sherman Gabriel Maynard (Posthumous)—Police Officer—Bravery/Gallantry
PUBLIC SERVICE MEDAL OF MERIT (GOLD)
1. Mrs. Majorie Wooding (Posthumous)—Educator—Education
2. Mrs. Pearl Telemaque—Educator—Education
3. Ms. Sheilah Solomon (Posthumous)—UNESCO Ambassador—National Service
4. Dr. Jefferson Davidson—Retired Public Servant—Public Service
5. Ms. Alison Lewis—Retired Permanent Secretary—Public Service
6. Ms. Christine Mary Sookram—Retired Permanent Secretary—Public Service
7. Dr. Ellis Burris—Retired Permanent Secretary—Public Service
8. Mrs. Gloria Edwards-Joseph—Retired Director Personnel Administration—Public Service
9. Ms. Margaret Farray—Retired Permanent Secretary—Public Service
10. Ms. Magaret Parillon—Retired Permanent Secretary—Public Service
11. Ms. Myrna Thompson—Retired Permanent Secretary—Public Service
PUBLIC SERVICE MEDAL OF MERIT (SILVER)
1. Dr. Victor Clement Quesnel (Posthumous)—Retired Plant Biologist—Research
MEDAL FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF WOMEN (GOLD)
1. Dr. Sherene Kalloo—Obstetrician/Gynaecologist — Medicine
2. The Rape Crisis Society—Non-Governmental Organisation—National Service
Organisation
3. Mrs. Catherine Rukmini Kumar—CEO, T&T Chamber of Industry and Commerce—Business
4. Mrs. Pearl Gopaul—Educator/Therapist—Health Care
5. Ms. Gillian Nicole Wall—Co—founder/ Member of the Powerful Ladies of Trinidad and Tobago (PLOTT)— Women’s Affairs