The National Awards of Trinidad and Tobago consist of:
The Order of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago - the country's highest award.The Trinity Cross - the country's highest award until 2006.The Chaconia Medal of the Order of the Trinity - in Gold, Silver or BronzeThe Hummingbird Medal of the Order of the Trinity - in Gold, Silver and BronzeThe Public Service Medal of Merit of the Order of the Trinity - in Gold, Silver and BronzeThe Medal for the Development of Women of the Order of the Trinity - in Gold, Silver and BronzeHolders of the various awards are allowed to place the letters, O.R.T.T. (Order of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago), T.C. (Trinity Cross), C.M. (Chaconia Medal), H.B.M. (Hummingbird Medal) or M.O.M. (Medal of Merit).
These awards were introduced following independence in 1962 to replace the honours available to citizens of the British Empire. They were approved in 1967 and first awarded in 1969.
Source-press releases from the Office of the prime Minister, Trindad and Tobago, Public Relations Division. Press release No. 374 dated 4 July 1969. The cabinet accepted the decision made by the national awards designs Selection Committee which selected the designs submitted by the following persons:
1. Ms Wilhelmina McDowell, who designed the Trinity Cross
2. Mrs A. Jardine, who designed the Chaconia Medal and
3. The designers of Messrs Y. DeLima and Co. Limited who conceptualised the Hummingbird Medal.
4. Mr Ebenezer Edwards designed the Public Service Medal of Merit
Some of the winners who won medals in past years are:
Chaconia Medal
Michael Ronald Als – Trade unionst/community activist (Silver) [posthumous]Rudolph Charles (Silver) [posthumous]Hummingbird Medal
John Gillespie – architect (Silver)Order of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
Justice Ivor ArchieMakendaal DaagaChaconia Medal
Jehue Gordon (Gold)Hummingbird Medal
Ramesh Maharaj (Gold)John Jaglal (Silver)Order of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
Keshorn WalcottChaconia Medal
Therese Mills (Gold)Selwyn Ryan (Gold)Swami Prakashananda (Gold)Hummingbird Medal
Ade Alleyne-Forte (Gold)Keston Bledman (Gold)Marc Burns (Gold)Emmanuel Callender (Gold)Lalonde Gordon (Gold)Deon Lendore (Gold)Jarrin Solomon (Gold)Richard Thompson (Gold)Peter EliasLiam Teague (Silver)Order of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
Ulric CrossChaconia Medal
Desmond Allum (Silver) [posthumous]Susan Craig-Jones (Silver)Hummingbird Medal
Denyse Plummer (Gold)Order of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
Karl Hudson-PhillipsChaconia Medal
Brian Mac Farlane (Gold)Julian Kenny (Gold)Margaret Elcock – broadcaster (Silver)Order of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
Jizelle SalandyChaconia Medal
Dr. Geraldine Roxanne Connor – ethnomusicologist (Gold)Dr. Cuthbert Joseph (Gold)Len "Boogsie" Sharpe (Gold)Hummingbird Medal
Alvin Corneal (Silver)Order of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
Brian Copeland - ProfessorBertram “Bertie” Lloyd Marshall, steelpan innovatorAnthony Williams, steelpan innovatorChaconia Medal
Aaron Armstrong (Gold)Keston Bledman (Gold)Marc Burns (Gold)Emmanuel Callender (Gold)Bernard Dulal-Whiteway (Gold)Richard Thompson (Gold)Meiling Esau (Silver)Chaconia Medal
Kenneth Gordon (Gold)Jizelle Salandy (Gold)Hummingbird Medal
Gerard Besson (Gold)Knolly Clarke (Gold)Daren Ganga (Gold)Trinity Cross
none awardedChaconia Medal
The 2006 World Cup squad and management (Gold)Ivee PendoSherie Leen SurlaRoda AndradeHaide EsparragoMarvin AndrewsChris BirchallAtiba CharlesIan CoxCarlos EdwardsCornell GlenCyd GrayShaka HislopClayton InceKelvin JackAvery JohnStern JohnKenwyne JonesRussell LatapyDennis LawrenceCollin SamuelBrent SanchoJason ScotlandDensill TheobaldAurtis WhitleyEvans WiseAnthony WolfeDwight YorkeLeo Beenhakker (coach)Professor David Picou MD (Gold)Professor Hubert Daisley (Gold)Glenn Erwin Tucker (Gold)William Laurence Chen (Silver)Hummingbird Medal
Anetta Archer (Gold)Feroza Rose Mohammed (Gold)Indi-Art Orchestra Musical Orchestra (Gold)Soroptimist International of Port-of-Spain (Gold)The Toco Foundation Organisation (Gold)Elizabeth Helena Percy (Silver), (posthumous)Cousilla Persad (Silver)Carlton Phillip (Silver)Ralph St Clair Davies (Silver)Kelvin Guy Choy Aming (Silver)Gary Straker's Pan School Organisation (Silver)Edwin Joseph Skinner (Silver)Dudnath Ramkeesoon (Silver)Renny Quow, sprinter (Silver)Rhonda Watkins (Silver)Public Service Medal of Merit
Deosaran Jagroo (Gold)Andrew Llewellyn Tyson (Gold) (posthumous)Carol Clark (Gold)Victoria Mendez-Charles (Gold)Paula Hazel-Dawn Daniel (Gold)Jagdeo Maharaj (Gold)Valerie Minnie Foster (Silver) (posthumous)Irma Sanowar (Silver)Trinity Cross
Edwin Carrington, Caricom Secretary GeneralChaconia Medal
Keith Chiang Awong (Gold)Prof Andrew Madan Ramroop (Gold)Justice Lionel Jones (Gold)Dr Aleem Mohammed (Gold)Carol Keller (Gold)Bertille St Clair, football manager (Silver)Francis Mungroo (Silver)Rudranath Indarsingh (Silver)Edward Henry Sealey (Silver)Hummingbird Medal
Noble Douglas (Gold)Elise Joseph (Gold)Edward Beharry (Gold)John Frankie Asche (Gold)Sedley Joseph (Gold)Trinidad Steel Percussion Orchestra (Gold)Heeralal Rampartap (Silver)Wayne Naranjit (posthumous) (Silver)Molly Boxhill (Silver)Bill Trotman (Silver)Kirk Fakira (Silver)Michael Marcellin (Silver)Alix Archer De Silva (Silver)Peter Samuel (Silver)Ria Ramnarine (Silver)Public Service Medal of Merit
Yolande Gooding (Gold)Sr Petronella Joseph (Gold)Hyacinth McDowall (Gold)Ahmed Ali (Gold)Annette Alfred (Gold)John Antoine (Gold)J David Ramkeesoon (Gold)Nature Seekers (Gold)MOMS for Literacy (Caribbean) (Gold)Mother’s Union Children’s Home (Gold)Louise Angelina Mc Intosh (Gold)Myra Catherine Greaves (Silver)Daisy Maria James McClean (Silver)Gloria Elizabeth Nurse (Silver)Trinity Cross
none awardedChaconia Medal
Stephen Ames (Gold)Arthur Lok Jack (Gold)Zadia Rajnauth (Gold)Sarah Whiteman (Gold)Malcolm Jones (Gold)Joan Massiah (Gold)George Bovell, Olympic swimmer (Gold)Fenrick De Four (posthumous) (Silver)Malick Folk Performing Company, Dance Company (Silver)Clico Shiv Shakti Dance Company, Dance Company (Silver)Hummingbird Medal
Cynthia Bell (Gold)Alyson Brown (Gold)Roy Cape (Gold)Barnabas Ramon-Fortune (Gold)Felix Roach (Gold)The WR Torres Foundation for the Blind (Gold)Edward Williams (posthumous) (Gold)Jacqueline Koon How (Gold)Veera Bhajan (Silver)Vishwanath Arjoon (Silver)Raj Karan Jadoo (Silver)Emmanuel Juman (Silver)The Lara Brothers Parang Group (Silver)Albert "Al" Ramsawack (Silver)Chandardath Sookram (Silver)Rhonda Charles (Silver)Medal of Merit
Joseph Allard (Gold)Cislyn Baptiste (Gold)Pamella Benson (Gold)Carl de Souza (posthumous) (Gold)Kenneth Phillip (Gold)Frank Porter (Gold)Trinity Cross
Ken JulienChaconia Medal
André Tanker (Gold) (posthumously)Robert Riley (Gold)Hummingbird Medal
George Bovell (Gold)Winston Bailey ("Shadow") (Silver)Jean Talma (Silver)Wayne Crooks (Silver)Medal of Merit
Shireen Dewan-Mc Ken (Silver)Trinity Cross
The Right Honourable Dr Eric Eustace WilliamsChaconia Medal (Gold)
Prof. Hylton McFarlanceProfessor Thomas Ainsworth HarewoodTrevor Michael BoopsinghArthur Reginald Roberts (posthumous)Chaconia Medal (Gold)
Vindar Rabindrath Dean-MaharajDr Iqbal MohammedDr Rajandaye Ramkissoon-ChenMr Colin LairdTrinity Cross
Archbishop Anthony Pantin [posthumous]Chaconia Medal (Gold)
Annette Des IslesDr Neville JankeyCourtney Andrew WalshPatrick Brennan BurkeProfessor Harrinath D. MaharajDr Norbert MassonTrinity Cross
Dr Henry Wesley Moulton Collymore MBBS, FRCSChief Eleazar Chukwuemeka Anyaoku, Con Adazie of Obosi, Ogwumba of Idemili (Honorary)Chaconia Medal (Gold)
Justice Zainool HoseinTrevor A. Lee (SC)Dwight Yorke, footballerLawrence DupreyDr Tim Dhanraj GopeesinghTrinity Cross
Bowles, Sylvan ]posthumous]Chaconia Medal (Gold)
Sharma, Justice Satnarine (Mr)Ibrahim, Justice Mustapha (Mr)Fitzwilliam, Wendy (Miss)Sabga, Anthony Norman (Mr)Trinity Cross
Robinson, Arthur N. R. (His Excellency)Chaconia Medal (Gold)
Boldon, Ato Jabari (Mr), athleteDavis, James Anthony (Hon. Mr Justice)Gopeesingh, Lloyd Balraj (Hon. Mr Justice) [posthumous]Hubah, Clarence Evans (Dr), MBELalla, Kenneth Ramsanta (Mr), SCThomas, Christopher Roy (Mr), AmbassadorTim Pow, Ainsley Vincent Maurice (Mr)Trinity Cross
De la Bastide, Michael Anthony (Mr)Minshall, Peter (Mr), Carnival artistChaconia Medal (Gold)
Andrews, John Peter (Mr)Gomez, Gerald Ethridge (Mr) [posthumous]Petrotrin Invaders Steel OrchestraPierre, Lennox Oscar (Mr) [posthumous]Queen's Park Cricket ClubRamchand, Kenneth (Professor)Trinity Cross
Bishop, Patricia Alison (Miss), HBMPantin, Gerard Arthur (Fr), C.S.Sp.Chaconia Medal (Gold)
Alcantara, Joyce Angela (Miss)Furness-Smith, John Gerald (Mr), SCRamadhin, Sonny (Mr), cricketerSelvon, Samuel Dickson (Mr), writer [posthumous]Public Service Medal of Merit (Silver)
Browne, Elaine LenoraTrinity Cross
Lara, Brian (Mr), international cricketerChaconia Medal (Gold)
Bobb, Euric (Dr) - Ph.D.De Leon "Roaring Lion", Rafael (Mr)Pitt-Miller, Phyllis Leonora (Dr)Trinity Cross
Hassanali, Noor M. (His Excellency)Walcott, Derek (Mr) (Honorary), writerChaconia Medal (Gold)
Barrow, Russell William (Dr)Barsotti, Frank Andral (Mr) - M.A. CantabFrancisco "Mighty Sparrow", Slinger (Mr), calypsonianJames, Alphonso Philbert Theophilus (Mr) [posthumous]Jorsling, Mc Donald Phillip (Mr)Roopnarinesingh, Syam Sundar (Professor)Sawh, Lall Ramnath (Dr)Chaconia Medal (Gold)
Addo, Edward Adotey (Dr)AMOCO Renegades Steel OrchestraGriffith, Elton George (The Most Reverend His Grace Dr)Henry, Mervyn Ulrick (Dr)John, Selwyn Alfred (Mr)Marshall, Bertie Lloyd (Mr)Murray, Lance Esme Hamilton (Mr)Vyas, Ramdath (Pundit)WITCO Desperadoes Steel OrchestraWong Sang, Joyce Angela (Mrs)Trinity Cross
The Regiment of the Trinidad and Tobago Defence ForceThe Trinidad and Tobago Police ServiceChaconia Medal (Gold)
Freeman, William E. (Mr) [posthumous], B.Sc. (Lond), A.R.C.S.Glean, Vernon (Mr)Knox, Wilfred Sidney (Mr)Media Association of Trinidad and TobagoNaraynsingh, Vijay (Dr)Neehall, John Edward (Dr)Norton, Noel Patrick (Mr)Richards, Rolf (Professor)The Trinidad and Tobago Fire ServiceThe Trinidad and Tobago Prison ServiceChaconia Medal (Gold)
Aziz, Mohammed Ali (Dr)Busby, George O. D. (Dr)Campbell, Alton A. (Mr)Des Iles, Gerard Emmanuel (Hon. Mr Justice)Deyalsingh, Lennox (Hon. Mr Justice)Lai-Fook, Arthur E. (Rev. Fr)Mahase, Anna (Dr)Ratan, Premchand N. (Dr)Sinanan, Ashford (Mr)Trinity Cross
McBurnie, Beryl Eugenia (Dr), H.B.M.Naipaul, Vidia S. (Mr) - H.B.M.Chaconia Medal (Gold)
Boswell-Inniss, Kathleen Sheila (Mrs)Capildeo, Simbhoonath (Mr)Ghouralal, Samuel (Dr)Ince, Winston Edghill (Dr)National football Team (Strike Squad)Trinity Cross
Demas, William Gilbert (Mr)Duprey, Cyril (Mr)Chaconia Medal (Gold)
Abidh, Stella (Dr)Hosein, Inayat (Mr)Lequay, Alloy (Mr)Lovelace, Earl (Mr)Narine, Ralph (Justice)Omah-Maharajh, Deonarayan (Dr), President General of the Sanatan Dharma Maha SabhaSammy, George (Professor) [posthumous]Warner, Alcalde (Justice)Trinity Cross
Bernard, Clinton (The Hon. Mr Justice)James, C. L. R. (Mr), historianPan TrinbagoWeekes, George (Mr)Chaconia Medal (Gold)
Butler, Knolly (Professor)Byam, Neville (Dr)Carrington, Edwin (Sir), former Secretary-General of CARICOMLaronde, Giselle (Miss), beauty pageant titleholderRambachand, Anand (Professor)Stewart, Leslie "Tiger" (Mr), boxerChaconia Medal (Gold)
Alleyne, Doddridge Henry Newton (Mr)Lewis, James O'Neil (Mr) (Awarded in 1974)Rampersad, Frank Budhoo (Mr)Trinity Cross
Kelsick, Cecil (The Hon. Mr Justice)Chaconia Medal (Gold)
Braithwaite, John (Mr)(Mr)
Seukeran, Lionel Frank (Mr)Chaconia Medal (Gold)
Wooding, Hugh Arthur Selby (Mr)Chaconia Medal (Gold)
Cross, Ulric, (Mr)Rees, Evan (Mr)Sosa, Thomas Gregorio (Mr)Trinity Cross
Hosein, Tajmool (Mr)Chaconia Medal (Gold)
Annisette, Emmanuel B. (Mr)Besson, Herman Alexander (Mr) [posthumous]Bramble, Cecil (Mr) [posthumous]Crichlow, Verna Mercedes (Mrs) [posthumous]Lewis, Anthony Clyde (Mr)Noel, Claude Benjamin (Mr)Pollonais, Rene Joseph (Mr)Richardson, Reginald Kenneth (Dr)Trinity Cross
Teshea, Isabella (Mrs) [posthumous]Chaconia Medal (Gold)
Corbin, Maurice (Mr)Date-Camps, Ada (Dr)Harnarayan, Percival (Mr)Kirton, Gertrude (Mrs)Padmore, Marjorie (Miss) [posthumous]Scott, Garvin (Mr)Trinity Cross
Bruce, Victor (Mr) - H.B.M.Burroughs, Randolph (Mr), M.O.M.Gregoire, Errol (Mr)Williams, Mervyn (Commander), M.O.M.Chaconia Medal (Gold)
Bonnett, Lionel (Mr), Chairman, Tobago County CouncilChadee, Dalton (Mr), Former Alderman and Deputy Mayor of San Fernando Borough CouncilMahabir, Bisram (Dr)Quamina, Elizabeth (Dr)Roopnarine, Errol (Mr) [posthumous]Scott, Winfield (Mr)Spence, John A. [Professor]Wilson, Oswald (Mr)Trinity Cross
Montano, Gerard (Mr)Phillips, Clement Ewart Gladstone (Mr)Pierre, Eugenia Theodosia (Mrs), C.M.T., H.B.M.Sinanan, Mitra G. (Mr)Chaconia Medal (Gold)
Blackman, Ingrid (Mrs)Burke-Browne, Angela (Mrs)Castagne, Patrick Stanislaus (Mr), composerCastanada, Peggy (Miss)Charleau, Heather (Miss)Charles, Cyrenia (Mrs)Dimsoy, Marcia (Miss)Gatcliffe, Thomas (Mr)Lutchman, Solomon (Mr) [posthumous]Nurse, Jennifer (Miss)Peters, Sherril (Mrs)Phelps, Harry Orville (Professor)Pierre, Eugenia Theodosia (Mrs)Prescod, Veryl (Miss)Sellier, Robert (Mr)Stollmeyer, Jeffrey (Mr), cricketer and footballerThomas-Luces, Althea (Mrs)Williams, Jennifer (Miss)Trinity Cross
Serrette, Joffre Charles Harold (Brigadier)Solomon, Patrick Vincent Joseph (Dr)Wharton, Joseph Algernon (Mr), QCChaconia Medal (Gold)
Dolly, Reynold Cartright (Dr)Galt, Kenneth Victor (Mr) [posthumous]Garcia, Ignacio Adrian (Mr)Murray, Eric Hugh (Mr)Patrick, Alan Leslie (Dr)Rostant, Louis Gerald (Mr)Seemungal, Lionel Augustine (Mr), S.C., M.A., LL.B. (Cantab.),<SGT.MELCHOR MANCERA NACION.>>613541
P/C SOLDIER..PHILIPPINE CONSTABULARY.. AWARDED AUGUST 3 1978, GOLD CROSS MEDAL,.. G,O.627..FOR RESISTING A REBEL FORCE THAT AMBUSHED HIS GROUP AT BARANGAY PUROG IN CALANUGAS LANAO DEL SUR ON MARCH 28 1979 THOUGH HE FOUGHT THE TO THE NEAREST TOWN WHERE HE WAS RESCUED... COURSE/TRAINING PASSED..AIR BORN [PHIL. 1979]JUMP AT CAMP CRAME,Q.CTY. U.S.AIR BORN 82 D.JUMP AT HARVARD UNIVERSITY.TOGETHER GEN.F.V.R. SCUBA DIVING COURSE/JUNGLE WARFARE COURSE.INTELGENCE COURSE.
Trinity Cross
Ali, Wahid (Dr)Amoroso, Emmanuel Ciprian (Professor)Commissiong, Janelle Penny (Miss), former beauty pageant titleholderReece, Alan (Sir)Chaconia Medal (Gold)
Bailey, Emmanuel McDonald (Mr), athleteDuprey, Cyril, OBE, businessman, founder of CLICOGhany, Noor Mohammed (Mr)Holder, Joseph Hamiltion (Mr)Inglefield, Geoffrey Robert (Mr)Murray, Arthur (Mr)Richards, George Maxwell (Mr)Trinity Cross
Crawford, Hasely JoachimMaingot, RodneyPitt, David Thomas (Lord)Thomasos, Clytus ArnoldChaconia Medal
Barcant, Malcolm (Gold)Beaubrun, Michael Herbert (Gold)Dieffenthaller, Raymond Edwin (Gold)McNish Althea (Mrs John Weiss) (Gold)Reece, Erna (Gold)Ward, Joshua Emmanuel (Gold)Hingwan, Edwin (posthumous) (Silver)Melchor, M. NACION GOLD CROSS MEDAL P/C SOLDIER G,O.627Chaconia Medal (Gold)
Bartholomew, Courtenay (Dr)Crichlow, Nathaniel (Senator) - trade unionistDymally, Mervyn (Senator)Henry, Zin (Dr)Hudson-Phillips, Henry, QCLloyd, Clive, CBE, AO - West Indies cricketer (Honorary)Murray, Deryck (Mr)Poon King, Theodosius (Dr)Robinson, Harold (Sir)Walls, Victor (Rev. Dr)Chaconia Medal (Gold)
Blackman, Fitzgerald (Alderman) [posthumous]De la Bastide, Karl Phillipe De Jacques (Justice)Gibbs, Lance (Mr) (Honorary)Julien, Bernard (Mr)Kanhai, Rohan (Mr) (Honorary)Pierre, Joseph Henry (Sir)Rowe, Lawrence (Mr) (Honorary)Wattley, George Hippolyte (Dr)Trinity Cross
La Borde, Charles Harold (Mr)La Borde, Mary Kwailan (Mrs)Boos, Werner James (Sir), CBE [posthumous]Hyatali, Isaac (The Honourable Sir)Chaconia Medal (Gold)
Archbald-Crichlow, Beryl May (Mrs)Armoogam, George Victor (Mr)Atteck, Sybil (Miss)O'Connor, Quintin (Mr) [posthumous]Vaucrosson, Walter Ferdinand (Dr)Waite, Joan Teresa (Sister)Trinity Cross
Archbald, Rupert Carlyle, QCMarcano, George Roderick (Dr)Sobers, Garfield St. Auburn, West Indies cricketer AO, OCC - [Honorary]Chaconia Medal (Gold)
Boucard, Dennis (Mr)Girwar, Norman (Mr)Mc Naughton-Jones, Cynthia (Mrs)Trinity Cross
Barboza, Mario Gibson (Mr)Constantine, Learie (Baron) - [posthumous]Maurice, Julius Hamilton (Mr)Mc Shine, Arthur Hugh (Sir) - Kt. Bach.Chaconia Medal (Gold)
Francis, Aldwin Gerard (Dr)Hoyte, Ralph Allan St. Clair (Dr)Johnstone, Helen May (Mrs) - CBEJulien, Kenneth (Professor)Julien, Mark Thomas Inskip (Senator)Lewis, Leon Ferdinand Earle (Dr)Trinity Cross
Butler, Tubal Uriah Buzz (Mr), labour leaderGranado, Mr Donald C. (His Excellency)Richards, George, QCChaconia Medal (Gold)
Best, Wilfred D. (Mr)Lee Lum, Edwin (Mr)Pilgrim, Grant E. (Mr)Robertson, Elbert S. (Dr)Wyke, David A. (Dr)Trinity Cross
Capildeo, Rudranath (Dr)Clarke, Ellis (Sir), CMG, QCHochoy, Solomon (His Excellency Sir), GCMG, GCVO, OBERyan, Finbar (His Excellency Count), OPWooding, Hugh (The Right Honourable Sir), PC, CBE, QCChaconia Medal (Gold)
Brathwaite, Lloyd (Professor)Graf, Leonard Joseph (Reverend Father)Grant, Kenneth Lindsay (Sir), OBEHarper, John A. V. (Mr) [posthumous]Jeffers, Audrey (Miss) [posthumous]Maharaj, Pundit Karoo Ojah, MBEMc Shine, Louis Anselm Halsey, CBEWaterman, James A. (Dr), OBEChaconia Medal (Silver)
Bynoe, MargaretJoseph, HarryKelshall, RalphMcBride, Cevella NikiRomilly, CleopatraHummingbird Medal
Atwell, Winifred (Gold)Carr, Andrew (Gold)McBurnie, Beryl (Gold)Selvon Samuel (Gold)Walcott, Derek (Gold) [Honorary]Bailey, George – carnival bandleader (Silver)Chang, Carlisle (Silver)Slinger, Francisco, "Mighty Sparrow" (Silver)Roberts, Aldwyn (Silver)Mannette, Ellie (Silver)Roberts, Edwin (Silver)On 17 April 2008 the Cabinet agreed that the name of the highest national award should be The Order of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, that the name of the Society to replace the Order of the Trinity should be The Distinguished Society of Trinidad and Tobago, that the highest national award should be re-designed so as to replace the Cross with a Medal and that the Letters Patent should be amended to give effect to those decisions.
Subsequently, in Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha of Trinidad and Tobago Inc & Ors v Attorney General of Trinidad and Tobago [2009] UKPC 17 (28 April 2009) the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in London, on appeal from the Court of Appeal of Trinidad and Tobago, held that the creation of the Trinity Cross of the Order of the Trinity breached the constitutional rights of non-Christians to equality and to freedom of conscience and belief. However, the Council also made a declaration that the judgment should not have retrospective effect: nothing in this judgment should be taken to apply to any awards of this high honour that were made under the system that the Letters Patent established before the date of the.. judgment. (per Lord Hope of Craighead at para 42).
