Kamal deserves honour: Rowley

Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley is happy that Kamluddin Mohammed is receiving the country's highest national honour, the Order of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.

Rowley says the former cabinet minister and founding member of the People's National Movement (PNM) deserves it. The Manning PNM administration had refused to honour Mohammed although he had been recommended several times for the award.

Two other former PNM members are getting the award, former Attorney General Karl Hudson-Phillips and former Senate President Dr Wahid Ali (posthumously). The fourth award goes posthumously to Pandit Krishna Maharaj.

Mohammed is pleased that his decades of service to the country has been recognised and rewarded. He told local media he hopes that it is seen as a reward for his public service to Trinidad and Tobago.

He also commended Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar as a "lady of vision" and reminded all politicians that they have been elected to serve the people, echoing the mantra of the Prime Minister.

The former CARICOM ambassador said now is the time for all citizens to put aside their differences and come together as one people to build the nation.

And he urged those who have chosen a life of crime to put down their knives, cutlasses and guns and live peacefully and in harmony. "Stop the senseless violence and the senseless killings in the country," he said.

Read a tribute to Kamal: Feature: Kamal - a life of service