On August 2, the Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) honoured Samsundar Ramdeen, a retired game warden from the Wildlife Section of T&T's Forestry Division, with the 2013 Clark R Bavin Wildlife Law Enforcement Award.
This award was presented to Ramdeen for his 36 years of service in proactively enforcing the laws of T&T that protect wildlife.
He received the award at the US Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement office in Valley Stream, New York. The Animal Welfare Institute is a non-profit charitable organisation founded in 1951 and dedicated to reducing animal suffering caused by people.
A release from the T&T Consulate in New York said the Clark R Bavin Wildlife Law Enforcement Award is presented to people who demonstrate exemplary efforts to combat wildlife offences.
The Institute indicated that the award is traditionally presented to honorees at each meeting of the Conference of the Parties of the Conventional on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) of Wild Fauna and Flora. The last CITES meeting was held in Bangkok, Thailand, in March 2013. Ramdeen was not able to attend that meeting so special arrangements were made to honour him in New York.
"The Animal Welfare Institute is honoured to recognise Samsundar Ramdeen with the Clark R Bavin Wildlife Law Enforcement Award," said Susan Millward, executive director of AWI.
"Not only are his accomplishments most deserving of this recognition but they should set the standard for all of those in Trinidad and Tobago who are responsible for enforcing that country's wildlife protection laws," Millward said.
Edward Grace, deputy assistant director for law enforcement of the US, Fish and Wildlife Service, said, "Officers like Warden Ramdeen truly embody the legacy of Clark Bavin.
"We're proud that our New York office was able to help AWI honour this man's contributions to wildlife conservation," Grace said.
As he accepted the award from wildlife biologist, DJ Schubert, Ramdeen's thoughts and last words were on the importance of biodiversity.
"The wildlife diversity of this country and of the world is irreplaceable and every person, whether they wear a badge or not, must help protect these amazing species and their habitats from destruction."
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