Source: Elizabeth Gonzales Guardian Tobago Correspondent 
On February 7, 2024, Tobago’s coastline was devastated when a barge capsized, spilling thousands of gallons of fuel into the sea. The disaster hit the island hard—environmentally, economically, and socially.
One year later, Tobagonians are reflecting on how the disaster changed the island.
Thick oil covered the shore in a matter of minutes after the Gulfstream barge overturned and crashed just off the coast of Cove, spewing bunker fuel. It was the beginning of months of recovery.
The spill was catastrophic, choking marine life and suffocating the island’s economy, incurring a $76 million bill.
The oil spread quickly, coating Lambeau Bay, lining the Scarborough shoreline, and breaching the protected mangroves.
Containment boons were used at the Scarborough Port and around the wreckage to contain the spill.
The spill didn’t just affect the environment—two schools, Scarborough Secondary and Lambeau Anglican, had to close because of air quality concerns.
The Tobago Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) said it took 196 days to contain 60,000 barrels of oil waste and 23,000 cubic yards of material waste to restore the island. It took 77 days to remove the wreckage.
One year later, fisherman Edwin Ramkissoon said life hasn’t been the same. His vessel, Fishers of Men, was trapped in the oil.
It took days to recover the vessel safely, but it was damaged and covered in fuel. To date, he’s still trying to get back on his feet.
Ramkissoon said: “Up to now, I don’t know what to say. It’s like a nightmare still haunting me.”
He is among a group waiting to process claims through the International Oil Spill Compensation Fund. Until that happens, he is surviving on handouts and favors.
He said he feels forgotten.
“My boat needs repairs. My engine—I have to get a new one because it’s not working so well. I need to paint over my boat as well because it still has oil stains and cracks from when they were bringing it up,” he said.
Chief Secretary Farley Augustine said the disaster proves Tobago can go through hell and come out strong.
At a press conference two weeks ago, Augustine gave a breakdown of the spill’s expenses.
“For me, the biggest takeaway from the crisis is that Tobago has the ability to go through hell and come out with a slice of heaven,” he said.
Augustine said the THA is working to capature Tobago’s response to the disaster in a special documentary.
Just days before the anniversary, hydrocarbons resurfaced but were quickly contained. TEMA director Allan Stewart said this might continue throughout the year.
“It is factual that there is sunken oil and as a result, it may resurface from time to time. When it resurfaces, we just have to do what we have to do in terms of mopping up.”
Marine expert Alvin Douglas predicts a full recovery of Tobago’s marine life—particularly the damage done to a reef during the crash—could take a lifetime.

A design for the new coat of arms has been chosen – it depicts a golden tenor pan and two sticks.
The final version was chosen from among several submissions by artist Gillian Bishop.
On January 13, Parliament approved the National Emblems of Trinidad and Tobago (Regulation) (Amendment) Bill, 2025, to give legal effect for the change.
The redesign will remove the depiction of the three ships – Nina, Pinta and Santa Maria – used by Italian explorer Christopher Columbus at the base of the coat of arms. ”
Pan Trinbago president Beverley Ramsey-Moore said the type of pan used on the coat of arms is a tenor pan with two pan sticks.


In a release, Ramsey-Moore hailed the decision as a monumental moment in TT's history.
“The inclusion of the steelpan on the national coat of arms is a defining moment for our nation. It symbolises the resilience, ingenuity and unity of our people. Born from struggle, the steelpan has become a beacon of TT’s cultural legacy and innovation. This is a moment for every citizen to stand tall and proud.”
During the debate, Tourism, Culture and the Arts Minister Randall Mitchell said the old coat of arms can be used until January 1, 2026, once the act is assented to and proclaimed by the President. Mitchell said the change was made because of public calls to decolonise the symbols of TT. Mitchell said the proposal for the change was formalised by the Cabinet in August 2024. Local jeweller and artist Bishop was asked to develop the new design.
“After a thorough review and thoughtful consideration of all designs, the Pan Trinbago team is pleased to express our enthusiastic agreement with design number seven. We are particularly heartened that this design features the steelpan alongside its iconic two-pan sticks. This inclusion celebrates the steelpan’s role as the national musical instrument of TT, symbolising the creativity and indomitable spirit of our people,” Mitchell said, quoting from a Pan Trinbago letter.
Mitchell said the transitional period will be until January 1, 2026, which meant there would be no great or disruptive urgency to change the old coat of arms.
“There will be no mad scramble. There will be no need for citizens to desperately line up at government offices to replace the old coat of arms. In a case where the coat of arms is in digital forms and online, it can be replaced in documents such as official correspondence and other paraphernalia with immediate effect, easily and at minimal cost."
“Where the coat of arms is in the form of physical installations, eg on government buildings, the bill provides for a period of transition, where all government agencies can now plan and budget in the upcoming appropriation bill, in the upcoming months, for changes that will need to be put in place by January 1, 2026.”
Moruga/Tableland MP Michelle Benjamin said the opposition was only informed about the bill at 2.40 pm on January 10, and told that it would be added to the Order Paper on January 13. The Opposition was only given additional information about the bill at 4 pm on January 13.
“I apologise to the members of Pan Trinbago present in the gallery as the members on this side were invested in the state of emergency debate. I apologise that pan is not being treated in the way it should be treated,” she said, noting the unpreparedness of the Opposition for the debate.
"How does the issue before us today improve the lives of our people? How does it address the struggles of our pan players who continue to fight for survival in a system that overlooks their existence? Symbolism cannot replace substance.
“Pan players are only celebrated during the Carnival season. The government could have come here today and itemised how they intend to improve the lack of institutional support.”
Benjamin asked for a definitive cost of changing the coat of arms. She said the country was left in limbo as there was not a final date given for the changeover of ID cards and other documents.
The Prime Minister said the government could not count on the support of the opposition even in such a unifying matter.
“Any MP saying they needed extended notice to be able to decide whether they will support the modernisation of our emblem could not be serious, especially since this issue has been around since last August (2024) and to come and say you were ambushed and therefore have nothing useful to say is really not a serious contribution.”
He said over the years the government had come to realise symbols and symbolism matter and the steelpan represents all of TT.
Rowley said steelpan players were honoured outside of Carnival and were embodiments of the country’s watchwords of discipline, tolerance and production.
Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar asked when the bill would be proclaimed. She called for the coat of arms in the House of Representatives to be changed first. She said the opposition supported the change.
“I want to place on record that we fully support this amended bill. It is long in coming but the day has come and we welcome that day.”


This story was originally published with the title "National Emblems Bill passed" and has been adjusted to include additional details. See original post below.
THE National Emblems of Trinidad and Tobago (Regulation) (Amendment) Bill, 2025, was passed in the Parliament on January 13.
Tourism, Culture and the Arts Minister Randall Mitchell said the old coat of arms can be used until January 1, 2026, once the act is assented to and proclaimed by the President.
Speaking during debate on the bill late on Monday night, Mitchell said the bill amends Part I of the schedule to the National Emblems of TT (Regulation) Act.
“This clause amends the description of the coat of arms of TT by deleting the reference in the base of the arms to ‘three ships of the period of Christopher Columbus also gold the sails set proper’ and substituting that the base of the coat of arms will now contain ‘a gold steelpan and its iconic two pan sticks, also gold.’”
Mitchell said the proposal for the change was formalised in August 2024 by cabinet, which agreed jeweller and artist Gillian Bishop would be engaged to develop the new design. He said she was asked to prepare renderings of the coat of arms to be considered by the cabinet and taken to Parliament.
He said the consideration and endorsement of Pan Trinbago was sought on the design and received in November 2024.
Mitchell said the transitional period will last until January 1, 2026, which meant there would be no great or disruptive urgency to change the old coat of arms to the new one.
Pan Trinbago president Beverley Ramsey-Moore hailed the decision as a monumental moment in TT's history..
“The inclusion of the steelpan on the national coat of arms is a defining moment for our nation. It symbolises the resilience, ingenuity and unity of our people. Born from struggle, the steelpan has become a beacon of TT’s cultural legacy and innovation. This is a moment for every citizen to stand tall and proud,” she said in a news release on January 14. (Source:  Newsday, January 15, 2025)

SIX Trinidadians have been announced among the 2025 Cohort of the Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative (YLAI) fellowship programme.
In a news release on January 8, the US embassy said the TT cohort includes Dominick Alexander, Naomi Anderson, Dharnel Duprey, Desirai Johnson-Phillip, Shereesa Khan and Simon Neptune

SIX Trinidadians have been announced among the 2025 Cohort of the Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative (YLAI) fellowship programme.
In a news release on January 8, the US embassy said the TT cohort includes Dominick Alexander, Naomi Anderson, Dharnel Duprey, Desirai Johnson-Phillip, Shereesa Khan and Simon Neptune.

The US Department of State’s YLAI is a programme that promotes entrepreneurship and economic prosperity across the Western Hemisphere, connecting entrepreneurs across borders through an annual fellowship programme, it said.
It will benefit 280 entrepreneurs from 37 countries..
The release said 2025 marks ten years of the YLAI programme.

The six from Trinidad and Tobago will join young leaders from countries in Latin America, the Caribbean and Canada for the hybrid fellowship, which was launched on December 9, 2024.
The programme, the release said, starts with a virtual entrepreneurial leadership curriculum this month. Fellows will then travel to cities across the US in May for a four-week professional placement with a host organisation.
The programme concludes in June with all fellows attending a closing forum in Washington, DC.

The embassy said since YLAI’s launch in 2015, more than 1,750 fellows have built connections with over 1,250 US businesses and organisations.
The 2025 cohort, it added, will bring the number of TT fellows to 44.
After completing the programme, fellows use the strategies they learned to attract new resources to their business and improve operations.
YLAI promotes US business models, increases trade, encourages job creation, and builds lasting and sustainable networks of young entrepreneurs and business and social leaders across Latin America, the Caribbean, Canada and the US, the release said.
The 2025 young leaders:
Dominick Alexander, business: Alexander works in the music sector as the CEO of Laudem Music School. The school provides music education for students of all ages and abilities.

Naomi Anderson, business: Anderson works in the food and beverage sector as the owner and head pastry chef of Unicakery. The company creates custom cakes and desserts.
Dharnel Dariel Duprey, environment: Duprey is the founder and operations manager of Growing Essentials Agricultural Supplies and Services. The organisation focuses on sustainable agriculture, including hydroponics and beekeeping.
Desirai Johnson-Phillip, environment: Johnson-Phillip is the founder and CEO of Leading Seedling and Exotic Plants. The company provides seedlings, plants, and agricultural services and is focused on engaging a new generation of agricultural leaders by attracting and empowering youth in the field.

Shereesa Khan, business: Khan works in the beauty business sector as the founder and CEO of Vortex Sensations. The manufacturing company creates organic products for people with skin and hair issues.


Simon Neptune, environment: Neptune works in the energy sector as the founder of Neptune Biosystems. The company is focused on developing biorefineries that convert landfill waste into carbon-neutral diesel fuel. (Source:  Newsday Jan 10, 2025)

TOBAGO has been showcased in two National Geographic features.
In a news release on November 14, Tobago Tourism Agency Ltd (TTAL) said, "We are pleased to share that the unspoilt island of Tobago has been featured in National Geographic’s newest documentary, Expedition Amazon.
"National Geographic also unveiled a special online photo essay titled The Plume, showcasing the island’s striking beauty beneath the surface through the captivating lens of noted National Geographic explorer and photographer Thomas Peschak."
TTAL said in a journey that "spanned the entire Amazon River Basin – from the icy 20,000-foot peaks of the Nevado Ausangate Mountain in the eastern Andes of Peru to its freshwater plume that reaches as far as the Caribbean islands, the unspoilt shores and vibrant reefs of Tobago present a stunning finale to National Geographic’s newest documentary, Expedition Amazon."
Expedition Amazon, it said, is the culmination of a two-year scientific exploration of the Amazon River Basin. Led by seven teams of National Geographic explorers under the Rolex and National Geographic Perpetual Planet Amazon Expedition, this new, ground-breaking documentary unearthed some of the region’s unique wonders, including its connection to the  reefs of Tobago.


“I’ve never seen blue sponges in my life,” said Angelo Bernardino, National Geographic explorer and ecologist, while exploring some of Tobago’s unique dive sites.
“A lot of marine life that we see here may be directly dependent on the food that is delivered by the Amazon River plume,” explained Bernardino during his exploration of the famous Japanese Gardens off the coast of Tobago’s Goat Island.
“And that translates into a completely different marine ecosystem…here, you have reefs that are dominated by sponges,” added Peschak.
Known by many as a diver’s paradise, Tobago boasts over 50 well-established dive sites, including the London Bridge Arch in Charlotteville, the Kelleston Drain off the coast of Little Tobago, Angel Reef in East Tobago and the Mount Irvine Wall and Kariwak Reef to the west of the island, thick with sponges, corals and the largest known brain coral in the western hemisphere. Divers can expect to find a vast array of marine life, including moray eels, lobsters, sea horses, barracudas, tarpons, rays and the leatherback turtle.
Director of marketing and communications at TTAL Jason Antoine said: “As one of the Caribbean’s hidden gems, Tobago remains a destination waiting to be discovered by many.
"With our reefs now featured in National Geographic, we hope to welcome more divers and travellers eager to experience their beauty first-hand. National Geographic's spotlight on Tobago’s mesmerising underwater landscape captures the essence of our natural allure, showcasing why Tobago should be on everyone’s travel list.”
"National Geographic’s recognition of Tobago further propels the island’s unique tourism offerings on the global stage, providing travellers, explorers and viewers around the world with a vibrant view of a rich dive experience that takes you beyond the ordinary," the TTAL release said.
Expedition Amazon is now streaming on Disney Plus, Hulu and NGTV: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pCjFWTp2J_k.

The Plume online photo essay, "showcasing the island’s striking beauty beneath the surface through the captivating lens of Peschak," can be viewed at: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/into-the-amazon/the-plume.
(Source: Newsday, Nov 17, 2024)

NOT many can boast of placing in the top three in a global competition. But the members of Presentation College, Chaguanas’ robotics team sure can. The students placed third in a joint effort with three other countries at the First Global Challenge in Athens, Greece.
The seventh edition of the competition, held from September 26-29, featured students from over 190 countries. Its website says the idea behind the challenge was for one team from each country to “participate and focus the world on the amazing things that happen when kids from every country work together to solve problems through STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics).”
This year’s theme was Feeding the Future, which focuses on sustainable food production.
“This year’s theme challenges teams to learn about and address the obstacles and opportunities to provide the global population with equitable, safe, nutritious, and environmentally responsible food,” the website adds.
Trinidad and Tobago’s team travelling included Xavier Blache, Kovid Capildeo, Xavier Edwards, Sameer Badree, Justin Basdeo and Sarmad Singh.
What they call the “ground team,” which also contributed to their efforts, included Vasudev Rampersad, Adam Baig, Naveen Singh, Avesh Ragoonath, Jamian Leopold, Vivek Bahadur Singh, and Aidan Singh.
Every year, the event provides teams with a kit in their home country, with parts such as steel rods, aluminium channels, motors, wheels, etc. The students then have to build a robot that meets specific criteria like size and ability to rise to a certain height.
There were 12 qualifying matches at the competition, from which 32 countries were selected for the semi-final rounds. For the finals, the qualifying teams were then split into alliances.
The challenge/game this year was a two-and-a-half-minute match in which one “alliance” battled another. An alliance in the challenge consisted of four different countries’ teams joining forces. Trinidad and Tobago teamed up with Estonia, Singapore and Guam, forming alliance eight.
The aim was to conserve water and energy and produce food. Then all six teams worked together as a “global alliance” to secure food and balance global resources to make a sustainable food system.
Coloured spheres were used to represent different elements – blue for water, green for energy, and orange for food. The robots, as well as selected human players, assisted in the process.
Blache, the team’s captain, told Newsday the experience was “a mix of excitement and education.”
“The excitement came from seeing so many different people around my age from different countries who have the same passion. And then for education, the event is not just about competing but learning about new technologies and hearing all the different ideas people have on solving a world challenge.”
The 18-year-old upper-six student is an aspiring software engineer. He said he got into robotics when he was in standard five after doing his first coding course. He currently studies pure and applied mathematics, physics, computer science and IT.
He recalled long days at nights at the school, even during vacation time, in preparation for the event. In fact, he said, practice began about a year ago.
“We entered the competition last year, too. So (afterwards) we started practising with the parts from that one.”
He said while he was part of the travelling team last year, his role was “more minor.
“Then a colleague of mine, Justin Basdeo, came to me and said, ‘Blache, let’s go and experiment with the parts.’ And throughout (last year), we experimented and got accustomed to the parts. So when the actual challenge was released this year in late June, we had a bit more familiarity.
“We created an Omni base that could drive in any direction.”
He said there were times they were still at school practising at 9 pm or even 11 pm.
Capildeo agreed, saying his teammates were “running on caffeine” during the final days of preparations.
“I didn’t stay as late as Blache did, but they really would be there until almost midnight until they were completely exhausted. Then, they would come back to school like normal the next morning.
“They were really giving it their all, physically and mentally, to make sure this robot could be built in time to ship.”
Capildeo, 18, studies maths, physics, chemistry and communication studies and has been on the robotics team for about three years.
He added that once they completed everything in time, it was on to the near 26-hour journey to Greece.
“I think there's a team picture we took when we finally landed in Greece where everybody was just looking really exhausted,” he said, laughing.
“And the competition itself started maybe two days after, and every day, we had to be out of the hotel before 7.30 am.”
Suffice it to say they continued running on caffeine. Capildeo was the human player for Trinidad and Tobago.
Trying his best to explain in layman’s terms what their robot did, Blache said, “It has to place one energy and one water ball within the goal to release a food ball, and once the food ball is released onto the playing field, the robot has to capture the food ball and bring it back to the human player.”
This, he said, was repeated throughout the game.
“...Because the purpose of the game is a physical representation that all countries must work together to combine water and energy to create food, and the food has to be brought back and stored and the stored food gives points to everyone (on the team).”
Capildeo praised Basdeo, the team’s head engineer, who “spent a lot of time going to help out other countries.
“A lot of the other Caribbean countries that came, their robots might have got partially damaged in transit. Justin actually used a lot of his free time helping countries like the US Virgin Islands, British Virgin Islands, Bermuda…And this would be from in the morning up until the night.
“Sometimes we'd reach the hotel at 10 pm and try to get as much sleep as we possibly could to go the next day again.”
He said he is certain there were nights they only got one or two hours of sleep.
Robotics is for everyone
Although he knew the team worked hard, Blache was shocked when he heard they had placed third.
“I didn't even know what to feel at that point.
“Because seeing that we, a team of boys who had little experience in robotics before joining, placed third in the world…Something like that is an amazing experience.”
He said this is why he encourages other students to join the team, as many doubt themselves.
“A lot of them feel that you have to be a top, top person in class to join robotics, or you have to have some sort of know-how in tech before you join robotics. But in the end, truly, it's not that. It's really just taking the step to try.”
Alliance number three (China, Moldova, Madagascar, Cook Islands) won the competition with 338 points, and alliance seven (Uzbekistan, Cambodia, Poland, Ethiopia) came second with 333 points.
Trinidad and Tobago’s alliance, eight, got 324 points.
Capildeo said similarly, he was “in disbelief and astonishment” on hearing the results.
“I knew how hard my team had worked, and I was happy that we kind of got rewarded for it all in the end…We showed the world that we are country that's capable of doing these kind of things.”
“I remember right after, we met we all hugged up each other because we just couldn't believe it,” he added.
They also placed first in the category of social media and got a blue ribbon for it. This was based on challenges the competition had from July.
Echoing his captain’s sentiments, Capildeo said, “Robotics is for everybody and everybody should give it a try.
“A lot of the people that came in and helped a lot of the students wouldn't have been as involved in robotics before, and they hadn't studied any of the theory…and they were still really, really good at it.
“Passion and love and genuine desire and drive to keep going and understand it all really helps.”
The students were accompanied by principal Dr Rene Wihby, and mentors Collin Samaru and Tricia Singh.
Singh recalled “not being able to breathe" (properly) during the semi-finals owing to her nervousness looking on.
“(After), the students told me they were also nervous, they were scared, they weren't sure if they could do it…But they said when they looked in the crowd and they saw the red, white and black, they were like, ‘We could definitely do it.’
“Most of the supporters were parents, siblings; we had the current principal and two past principals there from the school as well.”
She said she is very proud of the students and their work ethic. (Source:  Newsday. October 13, 2024)

JUSTICE Eleanor Joy Donaldson-Honeywell was on September 27 made the newest member of the Court of Appeal.
In a news release on September 27, President's House said Donaldson-Honeywell was sworn in as a member of the Court of Appeal of the Supreme Court of Trinidad and Tobago at a ceremony at the Office of President Christine Kangaloo.
It said, "In accordance with the advice of the Judicial and Legal Service Commission, Her Excellency Christine Carla Kangaloo, ORTT, President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, appointed Justice Eleanor Joy Donaldson-Honeywell as a Judge of the Court of Appeal today, Friday September 27, 2024 at a ceremony held at the Office of the President. The Honourable Chief Justice Mr Justice Ivor Archie ORTT, also attended the ceremony."
Prior to presenting Donaldson-Honeywell with her instrument of appointment, President Kangaloo made brief remarks about Donaldson-Honeywell's accomplishments.
Donaldson-Honeywell was admitted to practise at the Trinidad and Tobago Bar in 1989 and at the Jamaican Bar in the following year.
After a short stint at the National Commercial Bank Trust in Port of Spain, she became an associate attorney-at-law at Clinton Hart & Company in Jamaica, then the legal officer at the Fair-Trading Commission in that island before entering into private practice for a short period in 1995.
In that year, she became the director of legal services and enforcement at the Securities Commission in Jamaica before being appointed as the resident magistrate in the Kingston Corporate Area Criminal Division in 1999.
Justice Donaldson-Honeywell returned to Trinidad after four years and joined the Divestment Secretariat at the Ministry of Finance before being appointed as a member of the Industrial Court of Trinidad and Tobago.
In 2006, she became the chairman of the Essential Services Division of the Industrial Court and in 2010 was made solicitor general of Trinidad and Tobago.
Donaldson-Honeywell returned to private practice at the beginning of 2014 before being appointed a puisne judge in June 2015. Since 2019, she has also served as a part-time judge of the United Nations Dispute Tribunal.
She is a published author, winning the NALIS First Time Author prize in May 2015 for the biography of her father entitled Sailor Dance – John Stanley Donaldson- The Story.
She serves as a trained volunteer with the Adult Literacy Tutors Association.
On August 30, Justice Geoffrey Henderson was appointed to the Court of Appeal.
(Source: Newsday, Sept 29, 2024)

BELMOPAN: A one-day workshop aimed at equipping senior officials of the judiciary with the skills for efficiently resolving disputes, avoiding lengthy trials and reducing the backlog of civil cases gets under way here on Monday.
The senior courts of Belize Judicial Education Institute said that the Judicial Settlement Conferences is specifically tailored for judges, registrars, judicial assistants, and members of the Bar Association of Belize.
It said the event is one of two critical training seminars on Judicial Settlement Conferences and Criminal Mediation aimed at improving the effectiveness and efficiency of the judicial system.
These training seminars are aligned with the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) Academy for Law Needham’s Point Declaration, the Senior Courts of Belize Strategic Narrative, and the recommendations from the Criminal Justice Board.
Chief Justice Madame Louise Esther Blenman of the Senior Courts of Belize, and president of the Judicial Education Institute, said the judicial settlement conferences are facilitated by a settlement judge who acts as a mediator for matters assigned to another judge.
It will be facilitated by Justice of Appeal Vasheist Kokaram of the TT Judiciary, who is “renowned for his expertise and experience in mediation, and judicial settlement conferences, having provided extensive training across the Caribbean."
She said the Judicial Education Institute will hold a training seminar on criminal mediation from October 2-6, which is also judge-driven.
“In this case, judges will conduct the mediation of criminal cases. The criminal mediation training is sponsored by the European Union and the United Nations Programme Development PACE Justice Project.”
The five-day conference will be facilitated by Dr Christopher Malcolm and Burchell James of the St Augustine campus of the University of the West Indies (UWI).
“The participants will include the criminal division judges, magistrates, attorneys at law, and mediators. The training aims to introduce participants to mediation in criminal matters and the best practices as well as to tool participants with the skills for expediting case resolution and backlog reduction in the criminal-justice system in Belize. By incorporating mediation in the criminal-justice process, it will enhance access to justice, shorten legal proceedings and create a more responsive court system.”
The Chief Justice has sought to emphasise the significance of these training seminars in reducing case backlogs and empowering stakeholders of the senior courts of Belize with the latest knowledge and tools to ensure justice is delivered in a timely and effective manner. (Source: Newsday, Sept 29, 2024)

​Three people will today receive the nation’s highest national award—the Order of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago (ORTT). The Office of the President yesterday released the names of 65 citizens who will be honoured as they receive their national awards, as the country observes its 48th anniversary as a republic today.

• ​Mark Loquan, former president of the National Gas Company of Trinidad and Tobago (NGC), for National Service (Energy and Steelpan Innovation)
•  Prof Patrick Hosein for Technology, Innovation and Engineering
• Sydney Russell Martineau, SC, former president of the Law Association of Trinidad and Tobago (LATT), for Law.

The second highest award--the Chaconia Medal Gold—will be given to 11 awardees.
Among the awardees are a number of business people and experts in finance.
Executive chairman of Xtra Foods Supermarket Anon Naipaul will receive this award as well as Mohan Persad, director of Persad’s The Food King Supermarkets.
Eustace Nancis, founder of the Arima Door Centre Ltd. will also receive a Chaconia Medal Gold.

Chief executive officer of First Citizens Bank Karen Darbasie is an awardee in this category in the sphere of banking and finance.
Chaconia awards
There are seven recipients for the Chaconia Medal Silver, among them two former police commissioners and a former assistant police commissioner.
Former acting top cop Stephen Williams will receive an award in the sphere of National Security and Public Service.
Williams was commissioner from 2012 to 2020. He served as a police officer for over 35 years and has performed in all ranks, from constable to commissioner.
Former police commissioner James Anthony Philbert will receive the Chaconia Medal Silver. He has over 43 years in active policing and the Office of the President stated that he paid strong attention to the detection of transnational organised crimes, the management of illegal weapons and narcotics, human trafficking, and crime scene investigation.
Joanne James, retired assistant commissioner of police who has 40 years in law enforcement, will also receive the Chaconia Medal Silver. As a training specialist, James develops curricula and facilitate training for the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (induction and advanced levels). 
Hummingbird medals
The Hummingbird Medal is awarded for loyal and devoted service in any field of human endeavour, or for gallantry, or other humane action to the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.
A total of 18 recipients will be honoured with the Hummingbird Medal Gold.
Among them are six doctors, including dermatologist Dr Khamedaye Basdeo Maharaj. Basdeo-Maharaj is renowned for her seminal research in dermatology, particularly in the area of T-cell research, keloids, hair and nails.
President of Pan Trinbago Beverly Ramsey-Moore will receive the Hummingbird Medal Gold for contributions to Culture/Arts/Community Development.
There are 15 recipients of the Hummingbird Medal Silver and a number of awardees were recognised for their contribution to education. They include Zena Ramatali, first vice president of the National Parent Teachers Association (NPTA). Teachers, principals and a vice principal are also among the awardees.
The Public Service Medal of Merit is awarded for Outstanding and Meritorious Service to the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.
The Public Service Medal of Merit Gold went to eight people, including ombudsman Jacqueline Sampson Meiguel, who formerly worked as the clerk of the House. The Office of the President noted that Sampson Meiguel had been at the helm of the office of the Parliament as its accounting officer and head of department.
The Public Service Medal of Merit Silver went to former high commissioner Fitzgerald Mc Arthur Jeffrey (posthumous) who helped to strengthen ties between Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica, Haiti and the Dominican Republic.
The Medal for the Development of Women, Gold was awarded to Rowena Martineau Pitt, the director of Tabitha’s Home for Women and Children.
The Medal for the Development of Women, Bronze went to Giselle Granger, a farmer from St Mary’s village. (Souce: Sunday Express, Sept 24, 2024)