CARICOM has agreed to bestow the Order of CARICOM Community on Trinidad and Tobago’s former People’s National Movement government Minister Kamaluddin Mohammed, who is also the holder of TT’s highest award, the Order of Trinidad and Tobago.
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar said she nominated Mohammed for the award and it was accepted by the other CARICOM heads at the recent meeting in Suriname.
The prime minister said all relevant documents pertaining to Mohammed’s nomination are to be submitted shortly and the Order should be bestowed on him as early as June.
Persad-Bissessar said she is aware of Mohammed’s contribution to CARIFTA and CARICOM and he was very deserving of the award.
Mohammed is expected to celebrate his 85th birthday next month.
The former PNM minister, who served under the late Dr. Eric Williams was appointed Minister of West Indian Affairs and in 1970 became minister of foreign affairs and helped pioneer the movement from CARIFTA to CARICOM. In l999, he was appointed ambassador to CARICOM under the Basdeo Panday administration and he pioneered the Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME).
Former recipients of the Order of CARICOM include Sir Shridath Ramphal, Dame Eugenia Charles, Sir Gary Sobers, Derek Walcott, Michael Manley, ANR Robinson, Slinger Francisco (Mighty Sparrow), Lloyd Best and Brian Lara.
