Eight new inductees to St Mary’s College Hall of Fame

“Excellence in the service of others”. This was how Chairman of the St Mary’s College (CIC) Alumni Foundation Dr Terrence Farrell summed up the trait displayed by the individuals who are inducted into the St Mary’s College Hall of Fame.

Dr Farrell was speaking at the 14th Hall of Fame Induction ceremony held Thursday, November 20 at the school’s Centenary Hall, Pembroke Street. He explained that the objective of the Hall of Fame was to recognise and honour alumni who have made outstanding contributions to the College, to Trinidad and Tobago or to the world in various fields of endeavour and whose lives and contributions can serve as inspiration for current and future students.

A total of 107 persons, including two women, were inducted since the biennial ceremony—except for 2019—began in 1997.

This year’s eight inductees attended St Mary’s between the 50s to 70s and made their mark in business, culture, law, and medicine. They are:

• businessman Robert Bermudez (1964 –1969), inducted for “his work in building a West Indian Creole business that has excelled in competition with global brands, and which has become synonymous with Caribbean thrift, resilience and excellence”
• Dr Richard Clerk (1966–1968), honoured for his selfless work for several decades as physician in caring for the poor and terminally ill
• Martin Daly (1957–1963), honoured for impactful contributions to law and justice, public service and for intellectual life of the nation
• Ainsworth Mohammed (1961–1967), inducted for his excellence in steelband management and role as an Ambassador for T&T culture
• Dr Lennox Pierre (1958–1963) for excellence in providing high quality medical care to the people of the rural community in East Trinidad and skill and dedication as a medical doctor

Inducted posthumously were:

• Alwin Chow (1959–1965) for his courage in support of freedom of the press and contribution to public service
• Dr Emanuel Hosein (1962–1969) for his courage, public service and unwavering commitment to human dignity, and the youngest inductee
• Mark Loquan (1972–1979), who died April this year aged 63, recognised for his “significant contribution to the development of the energy sector and great impact on the advancement of the steelpan artform”

President Christine Kangaloo presented the awards to recipients and their representatives. Claudette Hosein collected on behalf of her husband Dr Hosein who died last year. Janelle ‘Penny’ Commissiong received the award on behalf of her husband Chow, who died in 2021, and Loquan’s wife, Patricia, collected on his behalf.

Master of ceremonies was Secretary of the CIC Foundation Nestor Lambert.

Fr Ronald Mendes CSSp, a member of the Hall of Fame Committee, offered welcome remarks. Archbishop Charles Jason Gordon also gave a brief address. —LPG