Plucky Priya’s moment
BY LARA PICKFORD-GORDON Saturday, September 1 2007
FIVE-YEAR-old Priya Seeram yesterday said she was excited and happy she received a Hummingbird Bronze Medal for gallantry.
As
she left the stage after receiving her medal from President George
Maxwell Richards, little Priya was seen walking with a confident
“bounce” and displaying her medal.
Seeram told Newsday that she was not nervous about going on stage in front of the large audience gathered at the spanking new Diplomatic Centre to witness the National Awards Ceremony. There were only a few empty seats in the hall which had a seating capacity of 450.
Priya who will start first year at the Rochard Douglas Presbyterian School in Barrackpore this September, was asked if she will take her medal to school. She said she was going to show her aunty and, “if she let’s me, I will take it to school to show it to my friends.”
Priya said that when she gets home she will show her cousin, Candice Beharry, her medal.
It was through her act of bravery in raising an alarm when Candice was kidnaped that Priya received her award for gallantry. She said that during that incident in September 2006 she was scared but she still tried to get help.
Candice’s mother Chitrita Beharry said that even up to yesterday evening before the ceremony Priya did not understand why she was getting the award.
“She did not know what she was getting the award for, so we explained to her,” she said. Meanwhile, President George Maxwell Richards yesterday revealed that Dr Brian Copeland will receive this nation’s highest award when a decision is made as to the replacement for the Trinity Cross.
The President made this announcement during a closing address at the end of yesterday’s ceremony.
Richards reminded the audience that no highest award was presented this year because Government has not yet taken a final decision on the recommendations of the Committee set up to review all aspects of this award.
Dr Copeland headed the Genesis pan project which was launched at the University of the West Indies, St Augustine last July. He headed the Project Team.
Richards commended the team for developing a new, exciting and innovative instrument which is the “only discovery so far in the 21 st century.” Dr Copeland said he was speechless on hearing the President’s announcement. He said the Award also recognised the efforts of people involved in the technical areas who have been labouring to improve the steelpan over the years.
Four persons were absent from yesterday’s ceremony. Chaconia (Silver) winner Dunbar Mc Intyre; Chaconia (Bronze) posthumous recipient Agathon Aerni had no one to accept on his behalf. Also absent were Dean Knolly Clarke (Humming Bird (Gold)) and Louis Bryan (Public Service Medal of Merit (Gold)
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