Mayaro heroes honoured for gallantry

In May, when Kendal Ramkissoon heard screams for help, he rushed into a burning house in St Augustine and rescued an elderly man and two dogs.

On Thursday, the office of the chairman at the Mayaro/Rio Claro Regional Corporation (MRCRC) honoured Ramkisson and two other burgesses, Rabindranath “Robin” Dookie, Richard “Toro” Knights and Kendal Ramkissoon, for their acts of gallantry.

MRCRC awarded them citations and medallions.

Ramkissoon is a coast guard officer, and Dookie and Knights are ex-police sergeants.

Addressing a small gathering at the corporation, chairman Raymond Cozier recalled that on May 16, while in St Augustine, near St John’s Road, Ramkissoon heard frantic residents saying a sick elderly man was trapped inside a burning house.

“Without hesitance or fear for his life, Ramkissoon used his response-and-rescue skills to save the life of this senior citizen and two animals in the process,” Cozier said. “He has also been involved in several search and rescue operations caused by flooding and other disasters in the community.”

Ramkissoon lives at Plaisance Road in Mayaro and is an able seaman with seven years’ service in the Coast Guard.

The two other recipients chased and caught a bandit outside Flourishing supermarket in Rio Claro on March 6. Dookie and Knights found a knife, mask, and cash on the man, whom they later handed over to Rio Claro police.

Newsday highlighted the incident in March, when the public praised the two for their swift response. They were outside the bar talking and saw the man fleeing.

A few days later, the 21-year-old man pleaded guilty before a magistrate, who fined him.

Since then, Cozier said Rio Claro had not had another incident of a similar nature.

Dookie lives at Grant Street, Rio Claro, and is a bar owner and businessman.

“He is also known for promoting community events such as the Emancipation Day Fun Run, all fours and windball competitions,” Cozier said.

Tabaquite-born Knights lives at Paymar Trace, Libertville in Rio Claro.

Like Dookie, he had 30 years’ service. Knights is also a former member of the Defence Force.

“The council members are pleased to bestow these awards for their acts of gallantry. They are most deserving of all accolades, tributes, and commendation,” Cozier said.

He repeatedly referred to the three as outstanding and distinguished gentlemen, role models, patriotic citizens, and community servants for their acts of gallantry.

“They all come from the law-enforcement sector, with an eternal vow to serve our community, and by extension our country,” he said.

Cozier repeatedly thanked the three “selfless servants” for their noble and heroic acts, which he said were an inspiration to the wider population.

The chairman extended his heartfelt gratitude to S&S Persads, Hosein’s Bakery, and Ramrattan’s Hardware for sponsoring the event.