Prof Clement Imbert, Prof John Agard, and Prof Pathmanathan Umaharan are the recipients of the Order of the Republic of TT, the nation’s highest award, for 2023.
The ORTT may be awarded to any person (citizen as well as non-citizen) who has rendered distinguished and outstanding service to TT. The list of awardees was released by President''s House on Saturday ahead of the award ceremony at President's House this evening.
In its release on the National Awards, President’s House said Prof Imbert is being honoured for innovation, steelpan technology, education and culture and the arts.
“He currently serves at the University of the West Indies as University Professor (Emeritus) in Mechanical /Metallurgical Engineering. As part of both the engineering and education fraternity, he was able to use his knowledge to assist in securing accreditation for the local engineering fraternity.
“He has worked on several boards including UTT, the Caribbean Industrial Research Institute and the Accreditation Council of TT.
“Prof Imbert has contributed significantly to the development of the steelpan. He is co-founder of the UWI Steelpan Development Centre and a member of the team that developed the G-Pan.”
Agard is being recognised for environment/climate change and biodiversity protection.
He is the executive director of the Global Institute for Climate-Smart and Resilient Development at the University of the West Indies.
“His research is widely recognised regionally and internationally, from natural resources management, water quality, marine and terrestrial ecology to the impact of climate change on natural and human systems.
“Prof Agard served as co-chair to a group of independent scientists appointed by the UN Secretary-General to draft the second quadrennial Global Sustainable Development Report in 2023. His vision is that of a society which recognises other forms of wealth including biodiversity that exist beyond the limit of GDP.”
Umaharan is being recognised for his services in the spheres of science/agricultural development.
He is the director of the Cocoa Research Centre at the UWI. As director, Prof Umaharan oversaw the conversion of the Cocoa Research Unit into a full-fledged campus centre.
“His research projects resulted in genetic approaches to overcome losses associated with disease, and improving tolerance to climate change. This has led the way to the development of the first molecular breeding programme in cocoa, a global DNA fingerprinting service, a quality certification service & the improvement of cocoa quality. Through his efforts the UWI has now been named by the EU as the top cocoa research institution globally.”
The Chaconia Medal may be awarded for long and meritorious service tending to promote national welfare or strengthen community spirit in TT.
This year’s medals have been awarded to Dr Bruce Paddington, founder and co-owner of Banyan Productions TT, for media/film industry; medical practitioner specializing in child and adolescent psychiatry Dr Jacqueline Sharpe for
