Hummingbird Medal
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| Hummingbird Medal | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Name | Hummingbird Medal |
| Awarded by | Trinidad and Tobago |
| Type | National award |
| Established | 1969 |
| First awarded | 1969 |
| Status | Active |
| Higher | Order of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago |
| Lower | Chaconia Medal |
Hummingbird Medal The Hummingbird Medal is a national decoration of Trinidad and Tobago instituted in 1969 to recognize loyal and meritorious service to the nation. It occupies a place in the Trinidadian honours system alongside the Order of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and the Chaconia Medal, and is awarded to citizens and non-citizens for long and meritorious service in civic life, culture, industry, and community development. The award is administered under legislation and protocols associated with the Office of the President of Trinidad and Tobago and the Office of the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago.
History
The award was created in the aftermath of constitutional developments in Trinidad and Tobago following independence in 1962 and the declaration of the republic in 1976, reflecting a broader regional trend of establishing national honours similar to systems in Canada, Jamaica, and Barbados. Its origins are connected to recommendations from advisory committees composed of figures from institutions such as the University of the West Indies, the National Carnival Commission, and the Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturers' Association. Early ceremonies drew attendance from officials associated with the West Indies Federation, cultural leaders linked to the Notting Hill Carnival, and representatives of diaspora communities in London, New York City, and Toronto. Over subsequent decades the medal has been conferred during investitures presided over by presidents who themselves held office following figures like Eric Williams, A. N. R. Robinson, and George Maxwell Richards.
Eligibility and Criteria
Eligibility criteria are set by statutory instruments and advisory panels including members from organizations such as the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service, the Ministry of National Security (Trinidad and Tobago), and civil society groups like the United National Congress and the People's National Movement. Nominees have typically been prominent in fields represented by institutions such as the Port of Spain City Corporation, the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (through horticultural exchanges), the Pan American Health Organization, and cultural bodies linked to Calypso Monarch competitions and the Steelpan Music Festival. Criteria emphasize sustained contribution, impact on communities comparable to recipients of the Order of Canada or Order of Jamaica, and recognition by peers in associations such as the Caribbean Development Bank and the Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce.
Classes and Design
The Hummingbird Medal is issued in three classes—Gold, Silver, and Bronze—paralleling structures found in honours like the Order of the British Empire and the Legion of Honour. The insignia design incorporates national symbolism akin to motifs used in the Flag of Trinidad and Tobago and the Coat of arms of Trinidad and Tobago, often crafted by artisans connected to workshops in Port of Spain and makers with links to Dieppe and London. The ribbon and medallion display iconography referencing flora and fauna celebrated by institutions such as the Trinidad and Tobago Field Naturalists' Club and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, and the metalwork techniques reflect traditions seen in medals from the Commonwealth of Nations.
Notable Recipients
Recipients include cultural figures, community leaders, athletes, and public servants recognized alongside luminaries from institutions such as the National Academy for the Performing Arts (Trinidad and Tobago), the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association, and the West Indies Cricket Board. Among those honoured are musicians with ties to the Soca and Calypso scenes, sportspeople associated with the West Indies cricket team and the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee, and civic activists who have collaborated with organizations like the Pan American Development Foundation and the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States. Nominees and awardees have often had professional intersections with universities such as Queen's University, Harvard University, and the University of the West Indies.
Conferment and Insignia Protocol
Investiture ceremonies are conducted by the President of Trinidad and Tobago at venues including the President's House (Trinidad and Tobago), often with participation from ministers from the Ministry of Arts and Multiculturalism and representatives of the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force. Protocols mirror aspects of ceremonial practice used in investitures for the Order of the British Empire and include presentation of the medal, citation readings referencing achievements in connection with agencies such as the Ministry of Health (Trinidad and Tobago), and photographic records maintained by the National Archives of Trinidad and Tobago. Recipients follow precedents for wearing insignia established in ceremonies similar to those for the Order of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and state functions held at venues like the National Academy for the Performing Arts (Trinidad and Tobago).
Precedence and Post-nominals
Within the national order of precedence the medal is ranked relative to other Trinidadian honours such as the Order of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and the Chaconia Medal, and its placement affects positioning in state processions and seating at events like national day parades at Queen's Park Savannah. Recipients are entitled to use post-nominal letters corresponding to the class conferred, following conventions comparable to post-nominals used by members of the Order of Canada and the Order of Jamaica.
Category:Trinidad and Tobago awards