In a prestigious ceremony at Shaw Park Cultural Complex on December 4th, the Tobago House of Assembly recognized 26 exceptional individuals and organizations with the Tobago Medal of Honour. The awards were presented by THA Chief Secretary Farley Augustine during the annual Tobago Day Awards celebration.
Former Chief Justice Ivor Archie received the highest distinction—the Tobago Medal of Honour Gold—in recognition of his decades of dedicated public service. Archie, who retired on October 22nd after serving 17 years as chief justice, reflected on his extensive career in a pre-recorded interview. “I’ve been in public service for most of my professional life,” he noted, sharing insights from his journey that included eight and a half years in the Cayman Islands where he rose to Solicitor General before being recruited as a high court judge.
Archie offered poignant advice to aspiring legal professionals: “If you’re thinking of a career in law, it is a brutal discipline. Don’t do it for prestige—you’re not going to be happy. You really have to have a passion for it. If you do have that passion, don’t give up.”
Chief Secretary Augustine used the occasion to inspire younger Tobagonians, urging them to transcend self-imposed limitations. “Never make the mistake of limiting yourself. You are able to accomplish far more than you can dare to dream,” he declared. Augustine called for a fundamental shift in perception, stating: “We must shift the perception of Tobagonians being indolent to industrious. Diligence must no longer be a trait of a select few; it must be the standard for the majority of us.”
The awards ceremony honored excellence across multiple domains including public service, culture, sports, education, health, entrepreneurship, community work, and diaspora contributions. Among the gold medal recipients were Sir Edwin Carrington for public service, Lincoln Warner for education and culture, and Bishop’s High School for educational excellence.
Silver and bronze medals were awarded to numerous distinguished citizens, with special categories including the Rose Gold Medal of Honour for women, presented to Dr. Freddy James for education, and the Tobago Diaspora Award given to Samuel Clarke for public and community service. The Chief Secretary’s Award recognized Kersh Ramsey for culture and Jolé St John for tourism contributions.
Augustine framed the awards within Tobago’s broader development vision, emphasizing: “Our development mantra—the greatest little island on the planet—is not a catch phrase, it is a call to action. We must invest in the transformation we seek.”