Former prime minister and president Arthur NR Robinson is the first recipient of Tobago’s highest award— the Tobago Medal of Honour. Tobago House of Assembly (THA) Presiding Officer, Ann Mitchell-Gift, presented the award to Robinson, the first chairman of the THA along with two posthumous awards to Tobago’s first Member of the Legislative Council, James Biggart and former Member of Parliament for Tobago, APT “Fargo” James. In presenting the awards, Mitchell-Gift said the Tobago Medal of Honour was the highest mark of distinction the assembly could confer on the island’s citizens.
“It is reserved for individuals whose contribution to the development of Tobago has been exceptional,” she added. She said in this inaugural year, the three people being awarded had distinguished themselves as architects of the development of Tobago, having attained the status of icons in Tobago’s historical landscape. She said: “Their service to this country has been characterised by excellence and thus merits Tobago’s highest honour.” She noted that the assembly had unanimously passed a motion on March 24 to establish the award.
After accepting the award Robinson, who has been in public life for more than 50 years, said he felt honoured to have been recognised by his fellow Tobagonians for his hard work towards the development of Trinidad and Tobago. Robinson, who was born at Calder Hall on December 16, 1926, is the only person in the history of the nation to have held three of the highest public offices: The first chairman of the Tobago House of Assembly; Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago; and President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.
He is widely acknowledged internationally as a visionary who has made a significant contribution to human rights. He was elected to the Federal Parliament in 1955 and in 1961 he was elected to the Trinidad and Tobago Parliament as the representative for Tobago East. In 1962, Robinson was appointed the nation’s first Minister of Finance and was given the responsibility for restructuring the country’s financial institutions and for reform of monetary policy for a newly independent Trinidad and Tobago. He has been responsible for several initiatives in regional development and jurisprudence. He has received many honours for this and his other achievements. In May, the Crown Point International Airport was renamed after him.
Biggart was born in Pembroke on June 6, 1877, distinguishing himself very early by excelling in business and at his profession as a pharmacist. He also contributed to a wide range of activities for the development of Tobago and was involved in church work, social welfare, sport, and in municipal reform. He promoted facilities for the intellectual improvement of citizens, donating a building as a place for debates, discussion and reading in 1911. James has been described as “Tobago’s most ardent advocate for political, social and economic development.” His parliamentary representation of Tobago from 1946 to 1961 is remembered with great admiration by those of his time and by historians.
He was born in Patience Hill in 1901 and received his early education and training in Tobago. In 1928, he migrated to La Brea, Trinidad, where his advocacy for working class rights found expression. He collaborated with trade union leaders of the time, such as Arthur Cipriani, Albert Gomes and Tubal Uriah Butler. During this time, he established a name for himself as a contractor and as a benevolent supporter of those in need.
