Orders, decorations, and medals of Trinidad and Tobago
The National Awards of Trinidad and Tobago consist of:
- The Order of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago - the country's highest award.
- The Trinity Cross - the country's highest award until 2006.
- The Chaconia Medal of the Order of the Trinity - in Gold, Silver or Bronze
- The Hummingbird Medal of the Order of the Trinity - in Gold, Silver and Bronze
- The Public Service Medal of Merit of the Order of the Trinity - in Gold, Silver and Bronze
- The Medal for the Development of Women of the Order of the Trinity - in Gold, Silver and Bronze
These awards were introduced following independence in 1962 to replace the Imperial royal honours available to citizens of the British Empire. They were approved in 1967 and first awarded in 1969.
The cabinet accepted the decision made by the national awards designs Selection Committee, which selected the designs submitted by the following persons:
1. Ms Wilhelmina McDowell, who designed the Trinity Cross
2. Mrs A. Jardine, who designed the Chaconia Medal
and
3. The designers of Messrs Y. DeLima and Co. Limited, who conceptualised the Hummingbird Medal.
4. Mr Ebenezer Edwards designed the Public Service Medal of Merit
Some of the winners who won medals in past years are:
2016 awards
Chaconia Medal- Prof. Dave Chadee - Entomologist and Parasitologist, for science
- Prof. Andrew Jupiter - Former Permanent Secretary/Chairman of the Board of the Petroleum Company of Trinidad and Tobago and Director of the National Gas Company, for public service
- Ramesh Lutchmedial - Former Director General of Civil Aviation, for public service
- Grace Angela Talma - Management Consultant, for community service
- William McKenzie - Former Minority Leader of the Tobago House of Assembly, for public service
- Winston Riley - Civil Engineer, for engineering
- Winston Rudder - Retired Permanent Secretary, for public service
- Justin Paul - Retired Permanent Secretary, for public service and education
- Leston Paul - Musician/arranger/composer, for culture
- Irwin "Scrunter" Johnson - Calypso
- Timothy Watkins - Calypso
- Angelo Bissessarsingh - History and education
- Cornelius Lewis - activist, for community service
- Brenda Le Maitre - Matron/Registered Nurse, for community service
- St. Margaret’s Boys’ Anglican School Youth Steel Orchestra, for culture
- Dr. Waffie Mohammed – Educator, for community service
- Jerry Baptiste - Police Sergeant, for community service
- Bibi Hallim - Retired Facilitator, for community service
- Austin Wilson - Retired sound engineer, for culture)
- Deborah De Rosia - Educator/ Community activist, for community service and education
- Anstey Lumen Payne
- Kenneth Paulsingh - Community activist, for community service
- Keith Campbell - Fireman, for gallantry
- Angella Jack
- Jacqueline Wilson
- Dr. Rohit Doon - Medical Doctor
- Mr. William Wilberforce Daniel - Chartered certified accountant
- Dr. Vincent Gerald Moe - Retired Permanent Secretary
- Ms. Margaret Wright – Retired Registered Nurse
- Iverne Ebenezer Yearwood - Former medical public service social worker
- Monica Rosalind Williams - Retired Director, Gender Affairs
- Angela Martin - journalist
2015 awards
- Errol McLeod
- Winston Dookeran
- Daphne Bartlett - businesswoman
- Selby Wilson - Telecommunications Authority chairman and former Finance Minister
- Reynold Cooper - retired Head of the Public Service
- Victor Mouttet - businessman
- Dil-e-Nadan
- Harrypersad Maharaj - President of the Inter- religious Organisation, for community service
- Nobel Khan - former President of the IRO, for community service
- Fred “Composer” Mitchell - calypso
- Kelwyn Hutcheon - calypso
- Andrew “Lord Superior” Marcano - calypso
- Anthony “All Rounder” Hendrickson - calypso
- Sharlene Flores - parang singer
- Sherman Maynard - Policeman, for loyal service
- Kal-el Alleyne - 4 year old, for bravery
- Fernando Smith - soldier, for bravery
- Edric Hargreaves - Coast Guard, for bravery
2014 awards
- Michael Ronald Als – Trade unionist/community activist
- Rudolph Charles
- Velma Jardine - Educator
- John Gillespie – architect
2013 awards
- Justice Ivor Archie
- Makandal Daaga
Hummingbird Medal
- Ramesh Maharaj
- John Jaglal
2012 awards
Chaconia Medal
- Therese Mills
- Selwyn Ryan
- Swami Prakashananda
- Ade Alleyne-Forte
- Keston Bledman
- Marc Burns
- Emmanuel Callender
- Lalonde Gordon
- Deon Lendore
- Jarrin Solomon
- Richard Thompson
- Peter Elias
- Liam Teague
2011 awards
Chaconia Medal
- Desmond Allum
- Susan Craig-Jones
- Denyse Plummer
2010 awards
- Karl Hudson-Phillips,QC
- Brian Mac Farlane
- Julian Kenny
- Margaret Elcock – broadcaster
2009 awards
Chaconia Medal
- Dr. Geraldine Roxanne Connor – ethnomusicologist
- Dr. Cuthbert Joseph
- Len "Boogsie" Sharpe
- Alvin Corneal
2008 awards
- Brian Copeland - Professor
- Bertram “Bertie” Lloyd Marshall, steelpan innovator
- Anthony Williams, steelpan innovator
- Aaron Armstrong
- Keston Bledman
- Marc Burns
- Emmanuel Callender
- Bernard Dulal-Whiteway
- Richard Thompson
- Meiling Esau
2007 awards
- Kenneth Gordon
- Jizelle Salandy
- Gerard Besson
- Knolly Clarke
- Daren Ganga
2006 awards
- none awarded
- The 2006 World Cup squad and management
- *Ivee Pendo
- *Sherie Leen Surla
- *Roda Andrade
- *Haide Esparrago
- *Marvin Andrews
- *Chris Birchall
- *Atiba Charles
- *Ian Cox
- *Carlos Edwards
- *Cornell Glen
- *Cyd Gray
- *Shaka Hislop
- *Clayton Ince
- *Kelvin Jack
- *Avery John
- *Stern John
- *Kenwyne Jones
- *Russell Latapy
- *Dennis Lawrence
- *Collin Samuel
- *Brent Sancho
- *Jason Scotland
- *Densill Theobald
- *Aurtis Whitley
- *Evans Wise
- *Anthony Wolfe
- *Dwight Yorke
- *Leo Beenhakker
- Professor David Picou MD
- Professor Hubert Daisley
- Glenn Erwin Tucker
- William Laurence Chen
- Anetta Archer
- Feroza Rose Mohammed
- Indi-Art Orchestra Musical Orchestra
- Soroptimist International of Port-of-Spain
- The Toco Foundation Organisation
- Elizabeth Helena Percy,
- Cousilla Persad
- Carlton Phillip
- Ralph St Clair Davies
- Kelvin Guy Choy Aming
- Gary Straker's Pan School Organisation
- Edwin Joseph Skinner
- Dudnath Ramkeesoon
- Renny Quow, sprinter
- Rhonda Watkins
- Deosaran Jagroo
- Andrew Llewellyn Tyson
- Carol Clark
- Victoria Mendez-Charles
- Paula Hazel-Dawn Daniel
- Jagdeo Maharaj
- Valerie Minnie Foster
- Irma Sanowar
2005 awards
- Edwin Carrington, Caricom Secretary General
- Keith Chiang Awong
- Prof Andrew Madan Ramroop
- Justice Lionel Jones
- Dr Aleem Mohammed
- Carol Keller
- Bertille St Clair, football manager
- Francis Mungroo
- Rudranath Indarsingh
- Edward Henry Sealey
- Noble Douglas
- Elise Joseph
- Edward Beharry
- John Frankie Asche
- Sedley Joseph
- Trinidad Steel Percussion Orchestra
- Heeralal Rampartap
- Wayne Naranjit
- Molly Boxhill
- Bill Trotman
- Kirk Fakira
- Michael Marcellin
- Alix Archer De Silva
- Peter Samuel
- Ria Ramnarine
- Yolande Gooding
- Sr Petronella Joseph
- Hyacinth McDowall
- Ahmed Ali
- Annette Alfred
- John Antoine
- J. David Ramkeesoon
- Nature Seekers
- MOMS for Literacy
- Mother’s Union Children’s Home
- Louise Angelina Mc Intosh
- Myra Catherine Greaves
- Daisy Maria James McClean
- Gloria Elizabeth Nurse
2004 awards
- none awarded
- Stephen Ames
- Arthur Lok Jack
- Zadia Rajnauth
- Sarah Whiteman
- Malcolm Jones
- Joan Massiah
- George Bovell, Olympic swimmer
- Fenrick De Four
- Malick Folk Performing Company, Dance Company
- Clico Shiv Shakti Dance Company, Dance Company
- Cynthia Bell
- Alyson Brown
- Roy Cape
- Barnabas Ramon-Fortune
- Felix Roach
- The WR Torres Foundation for the Blind
- Edward Williams
- Jacqueline Koon How
- Veera Bhajan
- Vishwanath Arjoon
- Raj Karan Jadoo
- Emmanuel Juman
- The Lara Brothers Parang Group
- Albert "Al" Ramsawack
- Chandardath Sookram
- Rhonda Charles
- Joseph Allard
- Cislyn Baptiste
- Pamella Benson
- Carl de Souza
- Kenneth Phillip
- Frank Porter
2003 Awards
- Ken Julien
- André Tanker
- Exodus Steel Orchestra
- Robert Riley
- George Bovell
- Winston Bailey
- Jean Talma
- Wayne Crooks
- Shireen Dewan-Mc Ken
2002 awards
Chaconia Medal
- Prof. Hylton McFarlance
- Professor Thomas Ainsworth Harewood
- Trevor Michael Boopsingh
- Arthur Reginald Roberts
2001 awards
- Vindar Rabindrath Dean-Maharaj
- Dr Iqbal Mohammed
- Dr Rajandaye Ramkissoon-Chen
- Mr Colin Laird
2000 awards
- Archbishop Anthony Pantin
- Annette Des Isles
- Dr Neville Jankey
- Courtney Andrew Walsh
- Patrick Brennan Burke
- Professor Harrinath D. Maharaj
- Dr Norbert Masson
1999 awards
- Dr Henry Wesley Moulton Collymore MBBS, FRCS
- Chief Eleazar Chukwuemeka Anyaoku, Con Adazie of Obosi, Ogwumba of Idemili
- Justice Zainool Hosein
- Trevor A. Lee, SC
- Dwight Yorke, footballer
- Lawrence Duprey
- Dr Tim Dhanraj Gopeesingh
1998 awards
- Bowles, Sylvan ]posthumous]
- Sharma, Justice Satnarine
- Ibrahim, Justice Mustapha
- Fitzwilliam, Wendy
- Sabga, Anthony Norman
1997 awards
- Robinson, Arthur N. R.
- Boldon, Ato Jabari, athlete
- Davis, James Anthony
- Gopeesingh, Lloyd Balraj
- Hubah, Clarence Evans, MBE
- Lalla, Kenneth Ramsanta, SC
- Thomas, Christopher Roy, Ambassador
- Tim Pow, Ainsley Vincent Maurice
1996 awards
- De la Bastide, Michael Anthony
- Minshall, Peter, Carnival artist
- Andrews, John Peter
- Gomez, Gerald Ethridge
- Petrotrin Invaders Steel Orchestra
- Pierre, Lennox Oscar
- Queen's Park Cricket Club
- Ramchand, Kenneth
1995 awards
- Bishop, Patricia Alison, HBM
- Pantin, Gerard Arthur, C.S.Sp.
- Alcantara, Joyce Angela
- Furness-Smith, John Gerald, SC
- Ramadhin, Sonny, cricketer
- Selvon, Samuel Dickson, writer
- Browne, Elaine Lenora
1994 awards
- Lara, Brian, international cricketer
- Bobb, Euric - Ph.D.
- De Leon "Roaring Lion", Rafael
- Pitt-Miller, Phyllis Leonora
1993 awards
- Hassanali, Noor M.
- Walcott, Derek , writer
- Barrow, Russell William
- Barsotti, Frank Andral - M.A. Cantab
- Francisco "Mighty Sparrow", Slinger, calypsonian
- James, Alphonso Philbert Theophilus
- Jorsling, Mc Donald Phillip
- Roopnarinesingh, Syam Sundar
- Sawh, Lall Ramnath
1992 awards
- Addo, Edward Adotey
- AMOCO Renegades Steel Orchestra
- Griffith, Elton George
- Henry, Mervyn Ulrick
- John, Selwyn Alfred
- Marshall, Bertie Lloyd
- Murray, Lance Esme Hamilton
- Vyas, Ramdath
- WITCO Desperadoes Steel Orchestra
- Wong Sang, Joyce Angela
1991 awards
- The Regiment of the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force
- The Trinidad and Tobago Police Service
- Freeman, William E. , B.Sc., A.R.C.S.
- Glean, Vernon
- Knox, Wilfred Sidney
- Media Association of Trinidad and Tobago
- Naraynsingh, Vijay
- Neehall, John Edward
- Norton, Noel Patrick
- Richards, Rolf
- The Trinidad and Tobago Fire Service
- The Trinidad and Tobago Prison Service
- Anand Yankarran
1990 awards
- Aziz, Mohammed Ali
- Busby, George O. D.
- Campbell, Alton A.
- Des Iles, Gerard Emmanuel
- Deyalsingh, Lennox
- Lai-Fook, Arthur E.
- Mahase, Anna
- Ratan, Premchand N.
- Sinanan, Ashford
1989 awards
- McBurnie, Beryl Eugenia, H.B.M.
- Naipaul, Vidia S. - H.B.M.
- Boswell-Inniss, Kathleen Sheila
- Capildeo, Simbhoonath
- Ghouralal, Samuel
- Ince, Winston Edghill
- National football Team
- Marshall, Stanley Laurie - Drama
1988 awards
Chaconia Medal
- Abidh, Stella
- Hosein, Inayat
- Lequay, Alloy
- Lovelace, Earl
- Narine, Ralph
- Omah-Maharajh, Deonarayan, President General of the Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha
- Sammy, George
- Warner, Alcalde
1987 awards
- Charles, Randolph T, Former Commissioner of Prisons Public Service
- Bernard, Clinton
- James, C. L. R., historian
- Pan Trinbago
- Weekes, George
- Butler, Knolly
- Byam, Neville
- Carrington, Edwin, former Secretary-General of CARICOM
- Laronde, Giselle, beauty pageant titleholder
- Rambachand, Anand
- Stewart, Leslie "Tiger", boxer
1986 awards
- Alleyne, Doddridge Henry Newton
- Lewis, James O'Neil
- Rampersad, Frank Budhoo
1985 awards
Chaconia Medal
- Braithwaite, John
- Seukeran, Lionel Frank
1984 awards
- Wooding, Hugh Arthur Selby
1983 awards
- Cross, Ulric,
- Rees, Evan
- Sosa, Thomas Gregorio
1982 awards
- Hosein, Tajmool
- Annisette, Emmanuel B.
- Besson, Herman Alexander
- Bramble, Cecil
- Crichlow, Verna Mercedes
- Lewis, Anthony Clyde
- Noel, Claude Benjamin
- Pollonais, Rene Joseph
- Richardson, Reginald Kenneth
1981 awards
Chaconia Medal
- Corbin, Maurice
- Date-Camps, Ada
- Harnarayan, Percival
- Kirton, Gertrude
- Padmore, Marjorie
- Scott, Garvin
1980 awards
- Bruce, Victor - H.B.M.
- Burroughs, Randolph, M.O.M.
- Gregoire, Errol
- Williams, Mervyn, M.O.M.
- Bonnett, Lionel, Chairman, Tobago County Council
- Chadee, Dalton, Former Alderman and Deputy Mayor of San Fernando Borough Council
- Mahabir, Bisram
- Quamina, Elizabeth
- Roopnarine, Errol
- Scott, Winfield
- Spence, John A.
- Wilson, Oswald
1979 awards
- Montano, Gerard
- Phillips, Clement Ewart Gladstone
- Pierre, Eugenia Theodosia, C.M.T., H.B.M.
- Sinanan, Mitra G.
- Blackman, Ingrid
- Burke-Browne, Angela
- Castagne, Patrick Stanislaus, composer
- Castanada, Peggy
- Charleau, Heather
- Charles, Cyrenia
- Dimsoy, Marcia
- Gatcliffe, Thomas
- Lutchman, Solomon
- Nurse, Jennifer
- Peters, Sherril
- Phelps, Harry Orville
- Pierre, Eugenia Theodosia
- Prescod, Veryl
- Sellier, Robert
- Stollmeyer, Jeffrey, cricketer and footballer
- Thomas-Luces, Althea
- Williams, Jennifer
1978 awards
- Serrette, Joffre Charles Harold
- Solomon, Patrick Vincent Joseph
- Wharton, Joseph Algernon, QC
- Dolly, Reynold Cartright
- Galt, Kenneth Victor
- Garcia, Ignacio Adrian
- Murray, Eric Hugh
- Patrick, Alan Leslie
- Rostant, Louis Gerald
- Seemungal, Lionel Augustine, S.C., M.A., LL.B.
1977 awards
- Ali, Wahid
- Amoroso, Emmanuel Ciprian
- Commissiong, Janelle Penny, former beauty pageant titleholder
- Reece, Sir Alan
- Bailey, Emmanuel McDonald, athlete
- Duprey, Cyril, OBE, businessman, founder of CLICO
- Ghany, Noor Mohammed
- Holder, Joseph Hamiltion
- Inglefield, Geoffrey Robert
- Murray, Arthur
- Richards, George Maxwell
1976 awards
- Crawford, Hasely Joachim
- Maingot, Rodney
- Pitt, David Thomas
- Thomasos, Clytus Arnold
- Barcant, Malcolm
- Beaubrun, Michael Herbert
- Dieffenthaller, Raymond Edwin
- McNish, Althea
- Reece, Erna
- Ward, Joshua Emmanuel
- Hingwan, Edwin
- Melchor, M. NACION GOLD CROSS MEDAL P/C SOLDIER G,O.627
1975 awards
- Bartholomew, Courtenay
- Crichlow, Nathaniel - trade unionist
- Dymally, Mervyn
- Henry, Zin
- Hudson-Phillips, Henry, QC
- Lloyd, Clive, CBE, AO - West Indies cricketer
- Murray, Deryck
- Poon King, Theodosius
- Robinson, Sir Harold
- Walls, Victor
1974 awards
- Blackman, Fitzgerald
- De la Bastide, Karl Phillipe De Jacques
- Gibbs, Lance
- Julien, Bernard
- Kanhai, Rohan
- Pierre, Joseph Henry
- Rowe, Lawrence
- Wattley, George Hippolyte
1973 awards
- La Borde, Charles Harold
- La Borde, Mary Kwailan
- Boos, Werner James, CBE
- Hyatali, Isaac
- Archbald-Crichlow, Beryl May
- Armoogam, George Victor
- Atteck, Sybil
- O'Connor, Quintin
- Vaucrosson, Walter Ferdinand
- Waite, Joan Teresa
1972 awards
- Archbald, Rupert Carlyle, QC
- Marcano, George Roderick
- Sobers, Garfield St. Auburn, West Indies cricketer AO, OCC -
- Boucard, Dennis
- Girwar, Norman
- Mc Naughton-Jones, Cynthia
1971 awards
- Barboza, Mario Gibson
- Constantine, Learie -
- Maurice, Julius Hamilton
- Mc Shine, Arthur Hugh - Kt. Bach.
- Francis, Aldwin Gerard
- Hoyte, Ralph Allan St. Clair
- Johnstone, Helen May - CBE
- Julien, Kenneth
- Julien, Mark Thomas Inskip
- Lewis, Leon Ferdinand Earle
1970 awards
- Butler, Tubal Uriah Buzz, labour leader
- Granado, Mr Donald C.
- Richards, George, QC
- Best, Wilfred D.
- Lee Lum, Edwin
- Pilgrim, Grant E.
- Robertson, Elbert S.
- Wyke, David A.
1969 awards
- Capildeo, Rudranath
- Clarke, Ellis, CMG, QC
- Hochoy, Solomon, GCMG, GCVO, OBE
- Ryan, Finbar, OP
- Wooding, Hugh, PC, CBE, QC
- Brathwaite, Lloyd
- Graf, Leonard Joseph
- Grant, Kenneth Lindsay, OBE
- Harper, John A. V.
- Jeffers, Audrey
- Maharaj, Pundit Karoo Ojah, MBE
- Mc Shine, Louis Anselm Halsey, CBE
- Waterman, James A., OBE
- Bynoe, Margaret
- Joseph, Harry
- Kelshall, Ralph
- McBride, Cevella Niki
- Romilly, Cleopatra
- Atwell, Winifred
- Carr, Andrew
- McBurnie, Beryl
- Selvon Samuel
- Walcott, Derek
- Bailey, George – carnival bandleader
- Chang, Carlisle
- Slinger, Francisco, "Mighty Sparrow"
- Roberts, Aldwyn
- Mannette, Ellie
- Roberts, Edwin
Constitutional controversy
Subsequently, in Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha of Trinidad and Tobago Inc & Ors v Attorney General of Trinidad and Tobago UKPC 17 the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in London, on appeal from the Court of Appeal of Trinidad and Tobago, held that the creation of the Trinity Cross of the Order of the Trinity breached the constitutional rights of non-Christians to equality and to freedom of conscience and belief. However, the Council also made a declaration that the judgment should not have retrospective effect: nothing in this judgment should be taken to apply to any awards of this high honour that were made under the system that the Letters Patent established before the date of the.. judgment..