Profiles: Heroes, Role Models and Pioneers of Trinidad and Tobago - by Nasser Khan

125 Her many years in Parliament spanned from 1966-1991 during which time she served as the Minister of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs, the Minister in the Ministry of the Prime Minister, the Minister in the Ministry of Education and Culture, and as the Member of Parliament for Fyzabad (three terms), Laventille East/Morvant and San Juan/Barataria. KAMALUDDIN MOHAMMED (1927-2015) K amaluddinMohammed has the distinction of being one of the longest serving members of Parliament, serving some 30 years between 1956 and 1986. He represented first the constituency of St. Joseph and later Barataria. During his time serving T&T in the government he was at various times the Minister of Agriculture, Health, Local Government, External Affairs and Public Utilities. He was also President of the World Health Organisation. He was responsible for the first Indian radio program in Trinidad back in 1947 and played a major part in bringing to the forefront such artists as Tarran Persad, Isaac Yankaran, Champa Devi, Bhola Persad and Henry ‘Tooloom’ Dindial. His program “Indian Talent on Parade” on Radio Trinidad lasted until 1962 when he gave up broadcasting. His brothers Moean and Sham continued where he left off, starting Indian Variety in 1962 and Mastana Bahar in 1970. During his term as Foreign Affairs Minister, Mohammed received awards from Brazil, Venezuela, Senegal and Liberia. Biography: Kamal: A lifetime of politics, religion and culture by Hamid A. Ghany (1996) • 2012: Order of Caricom • 2011: Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws, University of the West Indies • 2010: Order of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago • 2009: National Republic Day Award awarded by Citizens for a Better Trinidad and Tobago (CBTT) • 1999: Appointed Ambassador to Caricom by the government