CBTT honours Alvin Corneal
By Kevon Felmine (T&T Guardian)A former national footballer, cricket media personality and the longest serving member of the FIFA technical group, Alvin Corneal was described as a renaissance man and inspiration to many. Corneal was presented with a plaque by acting president Timothy Hamel-Smith as he was honoured by the Citizens for a Better Trinidad and Tobago (CBTT) at their 2011 National Republic Day Award at the Servol Institute in La Romaine. Hamel-Smith lauded Corneal achievements saying: “Today we come to honour a man who was understood, I dare say all his life, what it means to be given the opportunity to flourish. Alvin Corneal being described as a renaissance man in the sporting circle. A former Fatima College student, we see him today as a beacon, an inspiration to others as to what we can become when we put minds to it.”
Hamel-Smith said Corneal lived his life with his eyes on a higher prize of lifting others as he ascended the ladder of success. When it was his turn to speak, the man of the hour chose to address the children in the audience, describing them as the most important people there. He urged them to be good children to their parents, the most important commodity in their lives. Hamel-Smith and Corneal were then treated to some spirited entertainment by two students of the San Fernando Boys Government, led by their teacher Eprahim Ramkissoon on the keyboard. The school’s reigning calypso monarch, nine-year-old Joshua Hinds intrigued the audience with his performance of Portraits of Trinidad.
He outlined his life intentions to Corneal in song.
“I want to be a plus not a minus, to multiply not to divide, to be a circle not a square...I want to be the Prime Minister.”
Acting president Timothy Hamel-Smith presents Alvin Corneal
with the 2011 Republic Day award on Monday at Servol, La Romaine.
