The Order of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago (ORTT) has been awarded to one of this country’s finest citizens—a man born pre-World War II in Cedros, a generation after the end of indentureship.

He was academically gifted enough to achieve a scholarship to study in Scotland, but returned to Trinidad and Tobago to anchor himself and give a lifetime of service in politics, academia and West Indian literature.

This report is from an interview with Prof Kenneth Ramchand, following his acceptance of the ORTT at the awards ceremony at Queen’s Hall, St Ann’s, on September 24, Republic Day.