Richards holds back for George
Rhonda
Charles gets the Hummingbird silver medal from President George
Maxwell Richards.
BY
SHERWIN LONG
In an unprecedented gesture, President George Maxwell Richards last night prolonged the national awards ceremony to await the arrival of Olympic bronze medallist George Bovell III.
Bovell’s return flight from Athens, Greece, arrived in Trinidad late, and he received the Chaconia gold medal at President’s House, St Ann’s, a few minutes before 8 pm.
Guests who were enjoying the cocktail reception returned to their seats to witness the presentation to T&T’s only medal recipient at this year’s Olympics.
Richards had given all the other awardees their medals earlier.
Delighted to be back home, Bovell wished the country a happy independence and thanked the nation for its support.
“I’m glad I could show the world a powerhouse of our small island and make everybody proud,” he said.
Decked in his Olympic track suit, Bovell said he would take a week off before returning to Auburn University in the US.
Bovell, 21, was one of three young heroes at the ceremony.
He shared the spotlight with 16-year-old Veera Bhajan and 17-year-old Rhonda Charles.
Charles received the Hummingbird silver medal for gallantry, after rescuing a blind woman and her seven-month-old grandaughter from a fire.
Bhajan was honoured with the Hummingbird silver for youth inspiration and development.
The St Augustine Girls’ High School student has no arms and learned to write with her toes.
She gained five distinctions in her CXC examinations and will pursue her A’ Levels studies this term.
Prime Minister Patrick Manning, his wife Hazel, Chief Justice Satnarine Sharma and his wife Kalawaty were among those in attendance.
Student Veera Bhajan gets the Hummingbird silver medal from President George Maxwell Richards.
Photos: SHIRLEY BAHADUR
THE AWARDS
CHACONIA MEDAL (GOLD)
Stephen Michael Ames (Sport)
Arthur Lok Jack (Business)
Zaida Rajnauth (Public service)
Sarah Gloriana Whiteman
(Community service)
Malcolm Anthony Jones
(National economic development)
Joan Massiah (Public service)
George Richard Lycott Bovell III (Sport)
CHACONIA MEDAL (SILVER)
Fenrick R De Four
(Posthumous - public service)
Malick Folk Performing Company (Culture)
Clico Shiv Shakti Dance Company (Culture)
HUMMING BIRD MEDAL (GOLD)
Cynthia Bell (Community service)
Alyson Brown (Culture)
Roy Francis Cape (Culture)
Barnabas Ramon Fortune
(Posthumous - culture)
Felix Roach (Culture)
The WR Torres Foundation for the Blind (Community service)
Edward Williams
(Posthumous - gallantry/loyalty)
Jacqueline Koon How (Culture)
HUMMING BIRD MEDAL (SILVER)
Veera Bhajan (Youth inspiration & development)
Vishwananth Arjoon (Gallantry)
Raj Karan Jadoo
(Community service)
Emmanuel Juman
(Community service)
The Lara Brothers (Culture)
Albert ‘Al’ Ramsawack (Culture)
Chandarath Choko Sookram
(Community service)
Rhonda Charles (Gallantry)
THE PUBLIC SERVICE MEDAL OF MERIT (GOLD)
Joseph Allard (Public service)
Cislyn Baptiste (Public service)
Pamella Benson (Public service)
Carl de Souza (Public service)
Kenneth Phillip (Community service)
Frank Porter (Community service)
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