MAYARO MP HONOURS 9 ACHIEVERS

MAYARO MP HONOURS 9 ACHIEVERS MAYARO, the rustic, resort community, is more associated with beaches and relaxation than high-end, gala awards functions. 

But Mayaro Member of Parliament Rushton Paray is a game-changer, an enlightened representative, with progressive ideas and a modern worldview. 

So, last Thursday MP Paray hosted a wonderful formal event at the exquisite BP Resource Centre, in which he honoured nine national achievers who emerged from that south-eastern community. 

The evening was rich with eloquent speeches, inspiring messages, and the attendance of some of society’s most distinguished personalities. 

The event was titled Mayaro Legacy Awards and was staged in partnership with several prominent corporate citizens, including BPTT, Persad’s and Computer Technologies and Services Ltd. 

The selected honourees were statesman and academic Winston Dookeran, who is the holder of the Order of Trinidad and Tobago, Austin “Jack” Warner, sports administrator, entrepreneur, publisher, public office-holder and philanthropist, and Professor Brinsley Samaroo, historian, author and academic. 

Also, energy-industry investor and public sector administrator Trevor Lynch, legal luminary and President of the Law Association Sophia Chote S.C., medical surgeon and researcher Dr. William Dhanessar, and historian and writer Michael Anthony. 

Awardees also included journalist Ken Ali, and basketball star, coach and community development activist Matthew Pierre. 

The recipients were hailed by Master of Ceremonies Hansley Ajodha, himself an achiever in communications and the arts. 

MP Paray said he hopes the awards function would serve as a seed, “which can be planted in the fertile hearts and minds of our young Mayaro constituents. 

He stressed: “Greatness is but a heartbeat away, but first you must want it.” 

The parliamentarian said he sees his role as “a shaper of thoughts, a leader to pathways, a creator of opportunities. 

“In essence, we serve as messengers of hope.” 

He said he hopes the legacy awards would be an “inheritance that would pass down in generations of young Mayaro constituents.” 

There are plans to publish a book on leadership by the award recipients and for a speaking tour of schools in the 27 communities of the Mayaro constituency. 

Dr. Dillip Dan, a surgeon whose roots are in Navet Village, Rio Claro, delivered a stirring feature address, in which he implored youths not to be deterred by the challenges of poverty and limited opportunities. 

Dr. Dan extolled the virtues of perseverance, continuous education and being honest and hardworking. 

He stated that assuming responsibility is “one trait that successful and respected leaders must possess.” 

He added that “much of the younger generation has attained a sense of boldface entitlement, which is a difficult challenge to deal with as a society.” 

The respected media said that this was one factor in the decay in societal values. 

Honourees heartily congratulated Paray on his leadership in initiating the awards function. 

They spoke briefly of their respective careers, and how they were bolstered by their upbringing in the Mayaro communities. 

Dookeran told of the “mosaic of harmony” in growing up in Rio Claro, with ethnic unity and culture of togetherness. 

He said that Paray “has started a new conversation.” 

Warner said he was overwhelmed at being honoured, especially by the community from which he came. 

He commended the MP and said he hopes the awards would inspire the current and future generations. 

“I am extremely emotional,” he stated. 

The gripping evening included appropriate music, including an interpretation of Whitney Houston’s One Moment in Time by singers April Jairam and Tamu Aguillera. 

Dookeran quipped: “This is indeed one moment in time.” 

During the dinner and tete-a-tete that followed the formal function, attendees agreed that the event was a milestone and a source of inspiration. 

One business leader said: “Our society needs to honour our achievers and to use their successes as a shining light to others. 

“Our country sorely needs leadership, and this is on display this evening. 

“This is a wonderful experience and a memorable event.” 

MP Paray received lavish praises for his vision in formalising the event and his plans for the award recipients to motivate students and others. 

An attendee observed that such formal events are usually held in urban centres but the organisers showed that rural communities could properly host “an impressive function.” 

The corporate sponsors were lauded for sharing the MP’s vision.