THROUGHOUT HISTORY, societies of all kinds have determined ways and occasions on which to honour citizens for outstanding deeds. Barbados has chosen its Day of Independence (what others might deem their National Day) as the occasion on which to bestow such honours.
In doing so, Barbados has essentially replaced the externally bestowed colonial honours that mark the official birthday of Her Majesty the Queen, as the major opportunity when the citizens of this country collectively turn their gazes on their own in this most benign of fashion.
This year, November 30, Independence Day, maintained that tradition with several Barbadian citizens being publicly acknowleged for their activities in diverse fields, all of which brought credit to our nation on the 47th anniversary of its attainment of nationhood.
And while all of the recipients of the 2013 National Honours are to be commended with equal fervour no matter what might be the gradation of their awards, it would be generally accepted that two of the honorees stand out in particular.
This refers to the two recipients of the most lofty National Honour, Knight of St Andrew – Senator Dr Sir Trevor Carmichael and Professor Sir Trevor Hassell. Both had, through dint of hard and excellent work, already carved out for themselves areas of great distinction, long before they were placed in the national spotlight to mark our Independence.
Not only are these our latest knights highly regarded for their expertise and contributions in their professional fields over a substantial period of time (law and international business for Sir Trevor Carmichael and the practice and teaching of medicine for Sir Trevor Hassell), but they have at the same time accumulated sizeable reputations for personal integrity.
It is acknowledged that while these two distinguished sons of the soil did not spring from the ranks of the long established economic and social elites of Barbados, they were eminently able to use their passion for educational advancement to propel their drive for personal excellence in their chosen fields of endeavour to both advance themselves personally and at the same time make major contributions to the upliftment of their native land.
The fact that these knights as well as their fellow recipients of National Honours can be easily held up as personages to be admired and emulated by the rest of the society, bears ample testimony to the inherent quality of the nomination and selection process.
The truth is that while an argument can always be advanced for the inclusion or exclusion of various people, the National Honours system cannot be said to have been vulgarized, abused and cheapened over the years. May this always be so.