Chief Justice Ronnie Boodoosingh, President of the Senate, Wade Mark, and former Government Minister, Mayor and diplomat, Dr Surujrattan Rambachan, were honoured with the nation’s highest award, the Order of Trinidad and Tobago, on Republic Day.
While the awardees all expressed their gratitude, they acknowledged that it comes with a great responsibility and commitment to the country.
In a statement on Thursday, Chief Justice Ronnie Boodoosingh said he was honoured to receive the nation’s highest award, noting it comes with great responsibility. He said it speaks to the work of the Judiciary, which is fundamentally one of public service, with a constitutional role in upholding democratic values and the rule of law.
Senate President Wade Mark said he was deeply moved and humbled to be awarded, noting that his career in politics, which spans more than three decades, has always been centred around service to country and people.
“You commit yourself to struggle, you commit yourself to sacrifice, you have a sense of determination to accomplish and to try to achieve with the help of the people for them and on behalf of them, an improvement of their lives, by improving their standard of living and their quality of life at the end of the day.”
For Dr Rambachan, the award served as a powerful call to lifelong service, evident in his commitment to advocacy, as he continues to encourage men to get screened for prostate cancer, while he continues to fight the disease himself.
“When your country gives you an award like this, you are elated, but it also tells you that the award means that you must not stop working for your country, that you must continue to give of your best. It is not like a journey that has come to an end; it is the beginning of a new journey, where you know one has to look at, in what aspects of national life one can contribute.”
While the awardees commit their lives to making Trinidad and Tobago better for future generations, Mr Mark urged the country’s future leaders to remember this statement by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
“Service to humanity is service to God, and to serve, one does not need a PhD or even a first degree; what one requires is a heart full of grace and a soul generated by love.”
The Order of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago (ORTT) can be awarded to any citizen or non-citizen who has rendered distinguished and outstanding service to the nation. The prestigious honour is awarded exclusively in Gold and is limited to a maximum of five recipients per year.