Dr. Austin Trinidade awarded
Public Service Medal of Merit
September 1, 2011
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Having been overlooked on two separate occasions, prominent South Trinidad medical practitioner, Dr Austin Trinidade, says he was “pleasantly surprised” after learning he would be conferred with the Public Service Medal of Merit (Gold) at yesterday’s national awards ceremony at Queen’s Hall, St Ann’s.
Trinidade, a Kenyan by birth but who has lived and worked in Trinidad since 1972, was among 56 persons who received national awards for their contribution to society.
In an interview at his Palmiste, San Fernando home on Tuesday, an obviously elated Trinidade said he had been “very surprised” that he had been contacted by President’s House last Wednesday concerning the national award. “I was very surprised to begin with because I’ve been nominated before, two or three times before, so I really wasn’t expecting. I knew they had nominated me, the (southern branch of the) Medical Association nominated me because they asked me if they could nominate me and I was kind of hesitant, I said I had been nominated before and nothing happened,” he said.
“Well, I’m surprised but I’m also very thankful, because it’s nice to be recognised by your peers and by your country, my adopted country, very thankful yes.” Trinidade said while he had been sworn to secrecy, he had told his wife, Lorna, whom he married in 1975, and had subsequently told his two boys, Aaron and Adrian, who were both in England.
Trinidade, who retired as Medical Chief of Staff at the San Fernando General Hospital in 2007, also served as president of the TT Medical Association in 1989 and had two stints as council member of the Medical Board from 1995-1998 and 2004-2006. He also organised the first audiology testing in South Trinidad, which was subsequently used as a template for the Ministry of Health 15 years later.
Biographical Note:
Dr Austin, born in Mombasa, was educated in Mombasa, and Nairobi.(Dr. Ribeiro Goan School Class of 1963) He received his medical education at Makerere University Uganda and graduated as M.B., Ch.B in 1972
Came to Trinidad July 1972 to work at San Fernando General Hospital as an intern. He then went to England 1976 for postgraduate training and obtained Fellowship of Royal College of Surgeons1980 (Edinburgh) F.R..C.S. He returned to Trinidad in 1982 and became head of ENT in 1987. He was elected Fellow of American Academy Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery 1987
Appointed Medical Chief of Staff San Fernando General Hospital 1995. he served until retirement 2007, and now is in his own medical practice.
He married Lorna 1975, and has four children, Lawana, Aaron, Adrian & Teisha. Dr. Austin’s parents hail from Sangolda and Porvorim in Goa.
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