Jack to nominate kidnap victim for bravery award

Jack Warner has promised to nominate kidnap victim Neil Ramsubhag for a national award for bravery. The Works and Transport minister plans to submit the name for consideration by the national awards committee for bravery.

Neil is a student of the Mayaro Composite School, who had been abducted when bandits posing as police officers robbed the family home in Mayaro. He managed to escape from his kidnappers after three nights in the Cumaca forest, Valencia.

The young man walked through miles of dense forest before he was spotted and rescued by a passing police vehicle.

The younger is elated. “I am feeling very good to be honoured. It will act for me as a motivation to go to the next level. I am also looking forward to the other gifts, including the FIFA watch he (Warner) promised me," the 15-year-old told reporters.
Warner visited the family during his stint as acting prime minister.

That has Neil’s father, Bridgelal, on top of the world. he told reporters it's the first time a Prime Minister had ever visited the area. “You don’t know how happy I am,” he said,

Warner told citizens in Mayaro Sunday the teenager deserves the award because of his bravery and courage.

“That young boy walked and survived and therefore we decided that we should put up his name for an award — and let me tell you , we not going to beg for it you know. Is we award, is we award.”

According to Warner, Neil’s story “will serve as a model for every other young boy.”

he added, “You see his bravery is what has him alive today...a young boy walking in the forest at one in the morning. I can’t walk in the forest at one in the day, far more.”

Warner also promised Neil free school books and he said he will repair the roads leading to Neil's home would be repaired. “I have never seen such bad roads,” Warner said.

“And I told them we will fix the roads, we will run pipe for water because there is over 300 people living there. You know what Gypsy said, he said ‘out of evil cometh good',” he added.

The government is also submitting the name of veteran scout leader Patricia “Miss Patsy” Lezama for a national award. She leads the Mayaro Scout Band.

Minister of Arts and Multiculturalism, Winston “Gypsy” Peters, who nis also the MP for the areas, said Lezama’s achievements over the years have gone unnoticed despite efforts to have them recognised.

Peters said for years he pleaded with the former administration to recognise Lezama's service. “When we were in Opposition for all these years, I have been asking them to nominate Patsy for a national award, which she so rightly deserves and nobody found it fit.

"Well, Patsy, now that we are in government and we don’t have to beg, you are going to get your award. You deserve it."