Zalayhar Hassanali is among four people who will receive this nation's highest award—the Order of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago—at this evening's National Awards ceremony at Queen's Hall, St Ann's, Port of Spain.

Forty six individuals, among them 15 women, and two organisations, are to receive national awards today as the country celebrates its 49th anniversary of Independence.

Hassanali, the widow of Trinidad and Tobago's second President, Noor Mohamed Hassanali, is being recognised for her dedication to community service.

When contacted by the Express yesterday, Hassanali declined comment on the award being bestowed upon her.

Also receiving the Order of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago are businesswoman Helen Bhagwansingh (community service), retired Judge Philip Louis Ulric Cross (law) and businessman Anthony Norman Sabga (community service).

Bhagwansingh, the chairman and chief executive officer of the Bhagwansingh Group of Companies, was unavailable for comment yesterday. She has the distinction of becoming the first woman to be inducted into the Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce's Business Hall of Fame.

Cross, 94, served with the Royal Air Force during World War II and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and Distinguished Service Order while he was enlisted. In his honour, the Piarco Air Station was renamed the Ulric Cross Air Station in June. He is a former high commissioner to the United Kingdom, a retired Court of Appeal Judge and was awarded the Chaconia Gold Medal in 1983. He too declined comment when contacted yesterday.

Sabga said he was surprised and humbled to be once again acknowledged for his contribution this country's development. Born in Syria in 1923, the chairman and chief executive officer of the Ansa McAL Group of Companies, was also awarded the Chaconia Medal (Gold) in 1998.

Social activist and head of the Network of Non-governmental Organisations, Hazel Brown, is being awarded the Medal for the Development of Women (Gold).

"I am honoured to have been selected and I have agreed to accept the award," Brown said.

"For me, one of the reasons why this award is important is because it represents a recognition, at a national level, of the work and contribution that women at all levels of the society make to national development.

"A lot of this work is done without reward or valuing of the contribution and most of the time it takes a tremendous sacrifice to get things done. I am assuming that this (award) will have some sort of trickle down effect to the women in communities who are doing work for the benefit of the community."

Denyse Plummer, who is being awarded the Humming Bird Medal (Gold) for her work in the sphere of culture. Plummer has been singing for the past 38 years and had a tumultuous entry into the calypso arena 26 years ago. She has won the National Calypso Queen title on four occasions, the Calypso Queen of the World title four times, the Young King title and the National Calypso Monarch title.

In a telephone interview from New York where she has been contracted to perform at six shows during the Labour Day celebrations, Plummer told the Express that she was surprised when she got the news about the award.

"It is a very humbling thing," Plummer said.

"When I look at all my trophies and awards and plaques on my wall, many times I sit by myself and wonder what have I done to deserve all I am seeing in front of me. "It has been 26 years of struggle and fighting to hang in there and trying to do the best you could to sell your country and your culture. To be rewarded this way it makes you feel it didn't go unnoticed and it was appreciated by all the people of your country. I just can't ask for any more.

"There are many people who helped me get to when I am today, including my sister and manager Arlene, (New York show promoter) John Marcelline, (pan virtuoso) Len "Boogsie" Sharpe, SuperBlue, Kitchener, and Black Stalin are some of these people.

"My mother died last year and this is something she would have been so proud of. My father died just three weeks ago. If he had lived three more weeks he would have been here to see it happening to me. It is very emotional."

Comments of some of other national award recipients:

Fr Clyde Martin Harvey— Roman Catholic Priest—Humming Bird Medal (Gold) for religion and community service.

"No good work is ever done by one individual. So I thank God for family, for my brother priests, people like May Innis of the Morris Marshall Centre at St. Barbs, and the people who have worked with me in the HIV programme, as well as parishioners from different parts of Trinidad and Tobago who have stood by me over the years."

Ousman Ali—former Permanent Secretary—Humming Bird (Gold) for Public Service/Community Service.

"I am very, very humbled and honoured by this. I see it as both a privilege and an honour to receive something from your country which one has served in different capacities. My hope is that it will motivate others who come from little villages like myself, to be dedicated in their service to their country and to see what they can offer to those in society who are less fortunate.

Dr Austin Trinidade—ENT specialist—Public Service Medal of Merit (Gold) for Medicine.

"I feel very honoured and very humbled. It is nice to be recognised by your peers and by your Government."

Pastor Winston Cuffie— Minister of Religion—Chaconia Medal (Gold) for religion.

"I am very elated. I feel above all further inspired and motivated to do more and to work harder. The greatest reward for hard work is the knowledge that what you do is valued and appreciated. Though what we do is primarily unto the Lord, the Bible says give honour unto whom honour is due. I want to express my deepest gratitude to the Government and to everyone who may have been involved directly or indirectly with respect to my receiving this award. Also my most sincerest thanks and gratitude to those who have supported me over the years starting with my precious wife and family and to those both nationally and internationally including the media and the Ministry of Education."

Gladys Gafoor—Public Service Medal of Merit (Gold): "I am happy to be considered for an award. And I shall continue to serve the country in whatever capacity I am required to so do".

Gafoor, who currently serves as Deputy Chairman of the Integrity Commission, has worked in the Public Service for over 45 years. She has worked as Vice-President of the Industrial Court and Director of Public Prosecutions, Solicitor-General. She has lectured at the Hugh Wooding Law School, chaired the Commission of Inquiry into the Health Sector and most recently was a member of the Committee that investigated the death of Chrystal Ramsoomair from a botched C-section.

Dr Noel Kalicharan—Public Service Medal of Merit (Gold) : "It is always good to know that one's work is appreciated by others".

Kalicharan has been a lecturer in computer science at the University of the West Indies for 35 years and was part of the team when the University first introduced the degree programme in computer science in 1979. Last year he received the Trinidad and Tobago Icon award in Science and Technology in the area of computer science from NIHERST.

—with reporting by Camille Bethel, Louis B Homer

and Kim Boodram