THREE people will be awarded the Order of the Republic of TT (ORTT) at today’s Republic Day awards ceremony. The ORTT is this country's highest award.
The three are former National Gas Company (NGC) president Mark Loquan, UWI engineer Prof Patrick Hosein, and veteran attorney Russell Martineau, SC.
Loquan will receive the ORTT for national service in the areas of energy and steelpan innovation. His wife Patricia gave the following message on his behalf, when Newsday reached out to him for comment on September 23, as she noted he was unwell.
“I am deeply honoured and humbled by this recognition of my service in the best interests of national development in the energy sector, and for my long-standing work in building sustainability for our national instrument, the steelpan.”
The Office of the President (OTP), which issued a press release on September 23, outlining the names and contributions of 65 people who will received national awards on Republic Day, said Loquan has been a highly respected senior leader in the energy sector for the last two decades. It said he has made huge contributions to the industry through both his direct professional career at Yara, NGC, and his contribution to wider industry initiatives and developments.
It said Loquan is universally known and loved throughout the steelpan and music industry.
The UWI, St Augustine campus educator Prof Patrick Hosein will receive the ORTT for service in the sphere of technology, innovation and engineering. The OTP said Hosein’s professional excellence is characterised by his transformative contributions to telecommunications engineering, his advocacy for multi-stakeholder collaboration, and his commitment to fostering inclusivity and innovation in the digital landscape.
[caption id="attachment_1110490" align="aligncenter" width="380"] Professor Patrick Hosein who will receive the Order of the Repubic of TT on September 24. -[/caption]
Martineau, who will receive the ORTT for outstanding national service in the field of law, has been practising law since 1972. In 1981 he was appointed a senator and attorney general until 1986. In 1993 he was awarded Senior Counsel status and is a past president of the Law Association.
[caption id="attachment_1110489" align="alignnone" width="845"] Russel lMartineau, who will receive the Order of the Repubic of TT on September 24. -[/caption]
Apart from three people being awarded the ORTT, there will also be 11 Chaconia Medal Gold awardees, seven Chaconia Medal Silver, 18 Hummingbird Gold, 15 Hummingbird Silver, eight Medal of Merit Gold, one Medal of Merit Silver, one Medal for Development of Women Gold and one Medal for Development of Women Bronze, awardees.
Of note are the awards to two former police commissioners – Stephen Williams and James Philbert, and former assistant commissioner of police Joanne James for national security and public service.
GRATITUDE
The overwhelming feeling on the part of the recipients was gratitude.
Chaconia Medal Gold awardee Anon Naipaul, chairman of Xtra Foods S
