Hon Kamaluddin Mohammed

Kamaluddin Mohammed, former Trinidad and Tobago cabinet minister and ambassador to CARICOM, is this year’s recipient of the region’s highest award, the Order of the Caribbean Community (OCC).The Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community, at its 33rd Regular Meeting in Saint Lucia, conferred this honour for the decisive role Mohammed played in the’ Replanting of the Caribbean Vineyard.

Kamaluddin Mohammed, former Trinidad and Tobago cabinet minister and ambassador to CARICOM, is this year’s recipient of the region’s highest award, the Order of the Caribbean Community (OCC).

The Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community, at its 33rd Regular Meeting in Saint Lucia, conferred this honour for the decisive role Mohammed played in the’ Replanting of the Caribbean Vineyard.’

The OCC is awarded to Caribbean nationals whose legacy in the economic, political, social and cultural development of Caribbean society is considered phenomenal.

The Award was established at the Eighth Conference of CARICOM Heads of Government in 1987 and its first recipients were Trinidad and Tobago’s William Demas, Guyana’s Sir Shridath Ramphal and Saint Lucia’s Nobel Laureate Derek Walcott.

Mohammed’s political career has spanned 30 years, during which he has served as the head of various ministries, as well as in the capacity of acting prime minister in Trinidad. He is also the recipient of a Doctor of Letters honoris causa from the University of the West Indies (UWI) and his country’s highest award, the Order of Trinidad and Tobago.

In a citation read by Ambassador Colin Granderson, CARICOM Secretariat Assistant Secretary-General, Foreign and Community Relations Directorate, Mohammed was singled out for his contribution as Minister of West Indian Affairs, especially in relation to his contribution to the forging of Caribbean economic cooperation.

The Citation stated that his role in the early integration movement earned him the moniker’ Mr CARIFTA’ which was no misnomer, and given the Community’s trade and economic cooperation structures including the Single Market which have been built on the foundations that he played such a leading role in’ planting’, makes him most deserving of the Community’s highest accolade’

Mohammed is now entitled to affix the letters OCC behind his name. He also received an 18 carat medallion and a miniature version of the CARICOM insignia in the form of a lapel pin. He joins the ranks of 24 other Caribbean stalwarts.