Crime worries KamalBy LARA PICKFORD-GORDON Wednesday, September 1 2010
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WELL DONE: Veteran fashion designer Claudia Pegus proudly displays her national award....
KAMALUDDIN Mohammed, recipient of TT’s highest award — the Order of the Republic — last night said that the crime situation in the country was his “biggest concern”.
He made this remark during an interview with media shortly after he was presented with the award by President George Maxwell Richards at the National Awards 2010, which was held at Queen’s Hall in St Ann’s, for the first time. A total of 40 awards were given to nationals on the occasion of TT’s observance of 48 years of independence.
Asked to give his advice to the youths, Mohammed said, “be religious, be Godly and avoid crime because crime is a bad thing...that is my biggest concern today. I hope tomorrow we can wake up and hear there has been no shooting and stabbing and kidnapping. I hope things will go good and the country will progress.”
Responding to a question on what advice he would give to the People’s Partnership Government, Mohammed said, “they are going reasonably good and I think they need to be a little more circumspect in what they say and try to put things on the table and achieve, and then talk about it after. I think they are going fairly well.”
Mohammed said politicians had to be honest and serve the people with honesty. “They should also see their constituents regularly. “I lived in my constituency for 35 years and I have worked for the people. That’s the best way to serve them.”
Mohammed has been previously nominated for a national award, but it was under the People’s Partnership that he was granted the award. He said it was a good day and he thanked all who supported him. He did not want to “venture an opinion” on why he never got an award under the PNM administration of which he is a foundation member. “Ten years is a long time. I don’t know what happened but thanks to the present PM and the government. I am grateful for the honour,” Mohammed said. Commenting on what he thought was among the highlights of his decades in public life, he said it was being elected to head the Word Health Organisation. “I competed with many countries and won and I remained for a year on that job it was very good, a big achievement.” Mohammed was one of four persons — two posthumously — to be awarded the country’s highest honour. Veteran jurist and former Attorney General Karl Hudson-Phillips, former Senate President Dr Wahid Ali and Dharmacharya Pundit Krishna Maharaj, are the other awardees. Dr Ali and Pundit Maharaj are both deceased, and their relatives collected the honour on their behalf last night. Hudson-Phillips who is said to be out of the country, is expected to receive his award when he returns home.
Other absentees on the night were Msgr Gregory Ramkissoon, former Member of Parliament Errol Mahabir, who both received the Chaconia Medal (Gold), and Bishop Clive Abdulah who received the Hummingbird Medal (Gold).
Gurudutt Haresh Maharaj, who accepted the national award on behalf of his father the late Pundit Krishna Maharaj said he and his brothers and sisters were very elated at the honour. He described his father as a simple and gentle person whose simple act back in 1995 of refusing the Trinity Cross led to the government changing the Cross as the nation’s highest award to something reflective of a “rainbow country and also creating a change for the positive”.
Secretary-General of the Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha Satnarayan Maharaj was among the 40 persons receiving awards last night. Maharaj was most vocal in supporting Pundit Maharaj’s refusal to accept the Cross.
Former Commissioner of Prisons Carlo McHoney who received the Public Service Medal of Merit Silver, said his award puts the spotlight on a field (the Prisons Service) which has not been recognised at the national level. McHoney said he was proud and hoped it would give other prisons officers something to look forward to and make them proud to serve.
