National Awards 2015 … Pres. Granger hails awardees as inspiration to nation, youths

Oct 07, 2015 News

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By Jarryl Bryan

President David Granger hailed the awardees at yesterday’s Investiture ceremony at the National Cultural Centre (NCC) as an inspiration to the public, especially youths.

The list of awardees was announced back in May 2015. Fifty-three (53) awards were conferred on the awardees, all of whom enjoyed a military escort as they approached the Head of State.

It wasn’t all formality, however. When the physically challenged Walter Morris, Lieutenant Col. (Ret’d) climbed the stairs for his award, the President broke protocol to leave his dais and confer the award on the edge of the stage. This action prompted an outpouring of applause.

“I think he has a great concern for disabled persons. In other words, he cares for those who are physically challenged,” Morris said after the ceremony.

President Granger said that national awards are a symbol of nationhood and are the greatest gift that a nation can offer to its citizens.

The President said that the awards, the Order of Excellence, Order of Roraima, Cacique’s Crown of Honour, Golden Arrow of Achievement, Medal of Service, Discipline Services Medal for Meritorious Service, Military Service Star and the Military Service Medal, constitute an important institution of the state.

Granger said that though receiving an award is a prestigious national honour, it is merely a token that could not measure the magnitude of selflessness and dedicated service that citizens have given to their country.

Chancellor of the Judiciary and Chairman of the Advisory Council of the Orders of Guyana, Justice Carl Singh, said that these awards are the most tangible recognition of merit that citizens can receive from their country for the exceptional service they have given.

At its inception, there were only two Orders; the Order of Excellence (highest award) and the Order of Service. However, in 1976, the Constitution of Orders was amended to create the Order of Roraima, which ranks next to the Order of Excellence.

Additionally, there are the Orders of Service, which are made up of special awards including the Cacique’s Crown of Honour, the Golden Arrow of Achievement, the Medal of Service, the Cacique’s Crown of Valour, the Golden Arrow of Courage, and the President’s Commendation for Brave Conduct, the Military Service Star and the Disciplined Services Star.

“Every Guyanese should strive to emulate the contributions of today’s awardees to the good of our country,” Justice Singh urged in his address.

Those receiving the Order of Roraima were Mayor of Georgetown Hamilton Green; historian and educator Sister Mary Noel Menezes and Senior Counsel, Professor Emeritus Brynmor Pollard. (Pollard already has the Cacique’s Crown of Honor).

Receiving the Cacique’s Crown of Honour (CCH) were Edith Bynoe, a former Parliamentary Secretary within the Ministry of Trade; Oscar Clarke, former diplomat and General Secretary of the Peoples National Congress/ Reform (PNC/R); Yvonne Harewood-Benn, a former Minister of Government and educator; Llewellyn Clifton John, a former Minister of Agriculture, Home Affairs and Local Government; Apostle Winston F. McGowan; Eshwar Persaud.

Supriya Singh-Bodden, founder of the Guyana Foundation; Donald Trotman, former Supreme Court Judge and Elsworth Williams, an apostle, rounded off the CCH recipients.

Receiving the Golden Arrow of Achievement were Mitzy Gaynor Campbell, Guyana Kidney Foundation Administrator; Edgar Adams, Businessman Ivor Allen, Jeanne Atkinson, President of the Amerindian Peoples Association; Basil Blackman, former Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Officer; Paulette Bynoe, Senior lecturer; Malcolm Chan-A- Sue; Ivor Crandon, Professor of Neurosurgery; Doreen Duncan, retired Headmistress; Businessman Fazil Shahibbdeen Ibrahim Hakh and former Deputy Clerk of the National Assembly.

Sherlock Issacs, the current Clerk of the National Assembly; Jean La Rose; Paloma Ramona Mohamed, Senior lecturer; Prince Albert Pompey; Evan Semple; Gwendolyn Tross and Maurice Veecock, senior lecturer, were also the proud recipients of this award.

Gaining the group award was the Anna Catherina Islamic Complex, while posthumous awards were conferred on Olga Bone, former head of the Examinations Division, Ministry of Education and Wordsworth Mc Andrew, former Broadcaster and folklorist.

Receiving the Medal of Service were Mabel Baveghems, former Member of Parliament; Gordon Chase; Roylance David; Jaitun Haniff-Persaud; Noshella Lalchecharan; Godfrey Marshall; Sheik Niamatali; Amrita Thomas; Dionysia Niewenkerk; while Burnell Thomas received this award posthumously.

Receiving the Military Service Star were Brigadier Mark Phillips, current Chief of Staff; while Wilbert Lee, Col. (Ret’d) and Walter Morris, Lieutenant Col. (Ret’d) received the Military Service Medal.

Receiving the Disciplined Service Medal were Carol Audrey Lewis-Primo and David Ramnarine. Both are former and current Asst. Commissioners of Police. Carol Grahame and Welton Trotz, Deputy Director and Director of Prisons also got this award.

Desiree d’Santos-Moore and Peter Wilson, both retired Guyana Fire Service station officers, closed off the recipients.

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