Pride and patriotism reverberated in the National Cultural Centre as riveting cultural performances kicked off the 2017 Investiture Ceremony where 69 persons were rewarded for their outstanding and invaluable contributions to Guyana.
Rounds of applause echoed through the semi-packed auditorium of the Centre on earlier this evening (Friday, October 06, 2017) where Guyanese and professionals of other nationalities were awarded by Chancellor of the Orders of Guyana, President David Granger.
Dressed in their finest suits and fanciest dresses, awardees stole the spotlight as they strode down the green carpet to receive their badges of honour from President Granger.
Chancellor of the Judiciary (Ag), Yonette Decina Cummings-Edwards was bestowed with the Order of Roraima, for her long and outstanding service in the field of law. She has 27 years of unbroken experience in the local legal fraternity, having started off as a State Counsel in 1988 and worked her way up to her current position over the years.
The Cacique Crown of Honour, was awarded to the Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), Irwin LaRocque; Chief Justice (Ag), Roxane George-Wiltshire; Chancellor of the University of Guyana, Ivelaw Griffith; and religious leaders, Sheik Moen-ul-Hack and Murtland Massiah.
President Granger, in a short and simple presentation, congratulated this year’s awardees and promisedthat the Guyana Government wil never again “disparage this national institution” by neglecting to reward persons for their contributions to the nation.
According to the Head of State, National Awards are not “ornamental or perfunctory” but a reflection of the State’s appreciation to its citizens.
He said National Awards encourage others, particularly youths, to emulate the achievements of their elders.
National Awards were first given out in 1970 and it was an annual occasion until 2002. After a hiatus of nine years, the investiture ceremony was held again in 2011 and then again in 2015 where it resumed its annual status.
Thirty-one women were among this year’s awardees.
The full list of awardees is below.
Order of Roraima
1 Yonettte Decina Cummings-Edwards
Cacique’s Crown of Honour
1 Alison Roxane Mc Lean George
2 Ivelaw Lloyd Griffith
3 Moeenul Hack
4 Irwin La Rocque
5 Murtland Raphael Massiah
Golden Arrow of Achievement
1 Ramsay Ali
2 Annette Arjoon
3 Lloyd Fitzgerald Austin
4 Everette Lancelot Carberry
5 Rhoda Amelia Stephne Clarke
6 Winslow Marcellous Craig
7 Jose Louis Da Silva
8 Jennifer Dewar
9 Dorothy Fraser
10 Gloria Regina Fraser
11 Ameena Gafoor
12 Samuel Jaidatt Goolsarran
13 Gwyneth George
14 Adam Elias Harris
15 Hilton Gregory Hemerding
16 Sandra Hooper
17 Julia Ann Johnson
18 Sandra Valerie Jones
19 Raymond Mark Kirton
20 Hemraj Kissoon
21 Doris Ann Lewis
22 Tota Charran Mangar
23 Hyacinth Gloria Massay-Thomas
24 Julie Andrea Matthews
25 Coretta McDonald
26 George Gladstone McDonald
27 Ann Elizabeth McLennan
28 Marie June Mendes
29 Abena Nkenge Moore
30 Cecil Norman Murray
31 Vibert Virnen Parvatan
32 Jawahar Persaud
33 Karen Pilgrim
34 Andrew Godfrey Proctor
35 Khakan Ally Ramjohn
36 Gem Ann Rohlehr
37 Sonya Indira Roopnauth
38 Pradeep Parmanand Samtani
39 Godfrey Steve Statia
40 Barbara Patricia Thomas-Holder
41 Desmond Trotman
42 Patrick Everton Williams
43 Enrico Mortimer Woolford
44 John Carlson Yates
Medal of Service
1 Sandra Michelle Adams
2 John Andries
3 George Rupert Barclay
4 Erma Hyacinth Bovell
5 Camille Patricia Carrington
6 Patrick Nigel de Groot
7 Denise Dias
8 Merlene Ellis
9 Joan Anges Fredericks
10 Heeralall Makhanlall
11 Jenevieve Jenny Murray
12 Julio Perreira
13 Ryan Perreira
14 Emelda Sandy
Military Service Medal
1 Lt Col Lawrence Anthony Fraser
2 Lt Col Ramkarran Doodnauth
Disciplined Services Medal
1 Assistant Commissioner of Police Nigel Anthony Hoppie
2 Acting Director of Prisons Gladwin Andrea Samuels
3 Deputy Chief Fire Officer Winston Michael McGregor
