First, that which makes the population full of pride in this period of celebrating 53 years of political Independence. Once again a 4x400 men's relay team has brought international recognition to T&T. The announcer in his pre-race commentary from the IAAF World Championships in Beijing, China, kept referring to T&T as being "highly talented."
He was right as the T&T team snatched the silver medal.
No less a rewarding recognition for the country was the bronze won by the 4x100 metres women team comprising Kelly-Ann Baptiste, Michelle-Lee Ahye, Semoy Hackett and Reyare Thomas; and we should not forget the efforts of 17-year old Khalifa St Fort in the semifinals of the event. To make the achievement even more significant, the 42.03 run by the four young ladies set a new national record for the event.
In the men's race, the silver was earned through the speedy Renny Quow, the powerful LaLonde Gordon, Deon Lendore and young Machel Cedenio not yet out of his teens, running the finishing 400-metre leg of the race.
The quartet was brilliant and lion-hearted in one of the most-valued events of the championships. We salute the young sports men and women and their youth, the zeal displayed augurs well for continued success at the highest levels.
Often, when we are forced to focus on the not-so-noble deeds of our young men and women we sometimes forget that there is beauty and achievement by young sports people, scholars and a variety of young artists.
The young achievers must be held up to the national community as being indicative of what is possible with commitment, having and keeping the right focus.
The unfortunate is that a government in office has once again gone and done something that the entire country would not be able to participate in without a measure of concern.
Not for the first, second or third time, a government in office has handed out national awards amongst its own members of cabinet and in so doing raised questions.
Not only are the questions raised about the awarding of two of its own cabinet members with the country's highest award, but that such a practice serves to diminish the whole award system as the suggestion of nepotism arises.
What is particularly unfortunate about the giving of the awards to Mr Winston Dookeran and Mr Errol McLeod is that in the right circumstance, these are two individuals who could be duly considered for the award based on their long track records of service to the country.
But like with the situation that occurred quite early in the term of the People's Partnership government when Attorney General Anand Ramlogan and Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar gave each other the title of Senior Counsel, this self-aggrandisement cheapens the award.
And it seems no one learnt from the lesson of last year when former prime minister Patrick Manning made the point that he would not consider receiving such awards while he was still active as a politician.
One vital element of the constitutional reform that has to take place is to remove the power of making awards from the hands of the prime minister and anyone holding political office. It's an absolute fit for an independent committee headed by the Chief Justice, completely unconnected to the government in office, to make national awards without the input of the Prime Minister and any other government official.
With the politicians making the award when in office, one side will give liberally to itself and supporters, and when the other team comes in, it will repeat the dose of self-serving.