They aren’t national awards.

’The awards are, in fact, Prime Ministerial awards,’ says retired diplomat and former head of the Public Service, Reginald Dumas. For this reason, Dumas himself has on three occasions rejected offers for a national award. ’These are political awards,’ he argues. ’I don’t want an award from any Prime Minister, whoever he or she may be.’

Although citizens can nominate anyone for an award, the list is decided by a National Awards Committee. Dumas himself has served on the committee twice: once, in his capacity as head of the Public Service when the National Alliance for Reconstruction was in government, and the second time as a layperson appointed by then-Prime Minister Basdeo Panday during the tenure of the United National Congress.

On the latter occasion, Dumas accepted the post on the understanding that the procedures would be changed, and resigned when he saw this wasn’t happening. This committee consists of persons occupying five specific offices defined in Chapter 1:01 of the Laws of Trinidad and Tobago, as well as two laypersons. A ninth person, usually a senior public servant, functions as the Secretary to the committee but takes no part in its deliberations. When her office was contacted, the Secretary did not deign to speak directly to this reporter and refused to provide answers to questions about procedures or information about the members of the committee.

But six of these persons are known because of the offices they hold: the Chief Justice (Ivor Archie); the heads of the Public Service Commission (Christopher Thomas); the Teaching Services Commission (Hyacinth Guy); the Elections and Boundaries Commission (Norbert Masson); the Civil Service (Sandra Marchack), and two members of the public, who are appointed by the Prime Minister. These persons are appointed for three years, but their tenure can be extended and, says Dumas, usually is. ’All you have to do is behave yourself,’ he laughs. In any case, it is only the Prime Minister’s decision which matters. He not only has veto power over any nomination, but can also give awards without consulting the committee at all. ’So recommendations can be made and the Prime Minister looks and decides he doesn’t like X, and takes X out or gives a lesser award,’ Dumas says.

Last week, the Indo-Trinbago Equality Council, which is headed by Maha Sabha executive member Devant Maharaj, issued a statement claiming that with ’Indians constituting a statistical majority of the national population of over 43 per cent as compared to the 38 per cent for their African counterpart, it is inconceivable how and why Indians only receive a mere 10 per cent or 25 per cent of the national awards handed out annually.’ (Maharaj’s population figures are inaccurate: according to the 2000 census, persons of Indian descent make up 40 per cent of the populace, and persons of African descent 37.5 per cent.)

But, says Dumas, ’I don’t know that we should go on the basis of giving awards on the basis of racial quotas.’ As to whether there is racial bias in the awards, he suggests, ’I would like to see what happened under the Panday regime.’ In fact, during the UNC’s five-year tenure, only 29 per cent of the National Awards went to Indo-Trinidadians. As Table 1 shows, there was no systematic racial pattern in the awards given out between 1996 and 2000, when the UNC held office.

TABLE 1: National Awards under UNC

Year Indo-Trinidadian percentage

1996 6%

1997 46%

1998 54%

1999 18%

2000 22%

Source: National Library and

Information Systems

However, Table 2 suggests that the criteria under the UNC were more objective than under the first Manning administration, where just 15 per cent of recipients were Indo. In 2008, Maharaj was able to get documents from the awards committee through the Freedom of Information Act, on which basis he claimed that 21.8 per cent of the nominees were Indos, but only 7.1 per cent were among the 28 national awards approved by Manning. There has been no refutation of these figures from the Prime Minister’s office.

TABLE 2: National Awards under PNM

Year Indo-Trinidadian percentage

1991 29%

1992 5%

1993 6%

1994 1%

1995 36%

Source: NALIS

Between 1969 and 2002, only nine per cent of persons receiving the Trinity Cross were Indo-Trinidadian. The percentage was the same for the less prestigious Public Service medal, but better for the middle-status Chaconia Gold: 20 per cent of awardees in this category were Indo. Indos over this period never comprised less than 38 per cent of the population of T&T. However, head-counting alone does not prove racial bias in National Awards, since such honours are conferred on persons who, in one way or another, are active in public life. Dumas notes that there is also a bias in the kinds of areas selected for the awards: there is little emphasis on business but plenty on community service. So the core question is: Does the percentage of Indos given national awards match the percentage of Indos active in civic spheres?

There are several proxies that can be used for this measurement. A count of government subventions to community groups, for example, shows 23 per cent going to organisations based in Indo areas, while 40 per cent of grants to religious bodies are given to Hindus and Muslims. A sample of the 600 members of the Vision 2020 sub-committees has 18 per cent Indos, as does the number of prominent academics featured in UWI’s 60th anniversary Pelican magazine. And, in the private sector, 28 per cent of the board members of the Chamber of Commerce and 40 per cent of Sunday newspaper columnists are of Indian descent. All this yields a public participation rate for Indos of 28 per cent. Since the awards started in 1969, however, less than 15 per cent of National Award recipients overall have been Indo-Trinidadians.

Dumas argues that the Prime Minister should have his own awards and the National Awards be conferred by an independent committee, which must also have a staff to do checks on individuals who are nominated, since many of them would not be known outside their own communities. He also recommends that the criteria be made clear and consistent. The Chaconia Medal, for example, is given for ’meritorious service’. ’To whom is the service given and in what area?’ Dumas asks. He also singles out a 2009 recipient whose tenure as a PNM Minister was, in his view, undistinguished. ’Cuthbert Joseph got an award for ’national development’. What the hell does that mean?’ wonders Dumas.

Background of the National Awards

National Awards were first granted in 1969, seven years after Trinidad and Tobago gained its independence from Britain. These awards are presented to commemorate the Anniversary of our Independence.

Prior to our own local National Awards system, Trinidad and Tobago was involved in the system of Commonwealth Awards which was conferred by Her Majesty the Queen of England. These Commonwealth Awards comprised the Peerage and Baronestage, Privy Counsellors and various Orders of Knighthood Orders, Decorations and Medals, in Civil and Military Divisions in some cases.

Upon gaining independence from Britain in 1962, it was decided that Trinidad and Tobago should have its own National Awards. Although Cabinet had decided on 21st December 1967 that there should be seven (7) categories and fourteen (14) classes of National Awards, it subsequently amended these numbers to four (4) categories and ten (10) classes of National Awards.

The existing National Awards are:

Order of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago

The Order of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago was installed as Trinidad and Tobago’s new highest national award 2008 and replaces the Trinity Cross for Distinguished and Outstanding Service to Trinidad and Tobago.

The Chaconia Medal

The Chaconia Medal - Gold, Silver and Bronze - is limited to ten (10 recipients each year, though the number may be less. It is awarded to persons for work in the social field: to community workers in all organizations which promote community spirit and national welfare, for long and meritorious service to the country or the community in their respective organisations.

The Hummingbird Medal

The Hummingbird Medal - gold, silver and bronze - is limited to fifteen (15) recipients each year, though the number may be less. It is awarded to persons in the private or public sector, who have rendered loyal and devoted service in their respective fields, for the benefit or prestige of the community, or Trinidad and Tobago. It is also awarded for gallantry or other outstanding humane action.

The Public Service Medal of Merit

The Public Service Medal of Merit in gold, silver and bronze, is awarded to members of the Civil Service and Protective Services, including the Defence and Cadet Forces, members of Statutory Boards and Committees of other quasi Public Services.

The Gold Medal is awarded for outstanding and meritorious service, while the Silver Medal is awarded for long and meritorious service. The Bronze Medal is awarded for good conduct and long service of 12 years, while the Bronze Medal with one hexalphas, is awarded for service of 18 years.

Law establishing National Awards Committee

Chapter 1:01

6. (1) There shall be a standing National Awards Committee for the Order hereinafter called ’the Committee’ comprising-

(a) the Chief Justice of Trinidad and Tobago who shall be the Chairman of the Committee;

(b) the Chairman of the Public Service Commission;

(c) the Chairman of the Teaching Service Commission;

(d) the Chairman of the Elections Commission;

(e) a Senior Public Officer appointed by the Prime Minister;

(f) two persons representative of the General Public appointed by the Prime Minister. Such appointment shall be for a period not exceeding three years but a person whose appointment so expires shall be eligible for re-appointment.

(2) The Committee shall have a Secretary who shall be appointed by the Prime Minister.