Walcott receives T&T’s highest award

Trinidad's Keshorn Walcott during the athletics in the Olympic Stadium at the 2012 Summer Olympics, London,Saturday 4, Aug. 11, 2012.
Trinidad’s Keshorn Walcott during the athletics in the Olympic Stadium at the 2012 Summer Olympics, London,Saturday 4, Aug. 11, 2012.
Associated Press/David J. Phillip, file

Olympic gold medalist Keshorn Walcott was among the three recipients of the nation’s’ highest award, the Order of Trinidad and Tobago for the country’s golden jubilee celebrations recently.

The late Prime Minister George Chambers and labor leader Adrian Rienzi were among those who received the Order of Trinidad and Tobago an awards ceremony held at Queen’s Hall on Independence night (August 31, 2012).

Walcott, who won gold in the javelin event at the recent London 2012 Olympics, became the second Trinidadian to won gold after Hasley Crawford took gold in the 100 meters even at the Montreal Olympics, Canada 36 years ago.

Walcott, 19, became Trinidad and Tobago’s youngest person in the country’s history to receive the nation’s highest award.

Chambers, who was awarded in the field of public service served as prime minister from l981 to 1986. He was appointed to the post by the late President Sir Ellis Clarke, after his predecessor, the Dr Eric Williams, died in office.

Rienzi, an attorney, politician, and trade unionist was the founder of the Oilfield Workers Trade Union and the All Sugar Estate & Factory Workers’ Union in 1937.

Six journalists were among the 70 recipients of the national awards.