Outgoing US Ambassador to T&T, Candace Bond, made history when she received the country’s Hummingbird Medal Gold in the sphere of bilateral and diplomatic relations at a Special National Awards Ceremony held at President’s House on Friday.
Speaking to TTT News, she said she was humbled to receive the Hummingbird Medal Gold and will always remain a “Trini.”
“I love you, I love you, Trinidad and Tobago, and I will always remember you and carry you in my heart.”
It was the first time a foreign Ambassador received such an award, and Ms. Bond said she was “humbled” to receive the honour on behalf of the United States.
“When I came here two years and two months ago, I fell in love with Trinidad and Tobago and just the rich cultural, the heritage, the resiliency, and I was determined to ensure that we had a strong bilateral relationship. But I was also determined that by the time I left I was going to be Trini to the bone.”
During her tenure, Ambassador Bond led intensified high level engagement between the T&T Government and the US Congress on security cooperation, energy security, access to financing and banking, climate resilience and regional stability.
She also supported strengthened bilateral relations between the US and T&T, resulting in the granting of a licence for development of the Dragon Gas Field until October 2025.
Ambassador Bond said increased energy security and collaboration for national security were among her top achievements during her stint, which started in December 2022.
“I’m also very proud of our interactions with Government of Trinidad and Tobago, particularly in areas of energy security, and also in the issues of national security. We work very closely with the Minister of National Security and continue to do so. And I know I leave the Embassy in great hands.”
Minister of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs, Dr. Amery Browne, said it has been a fruitful partnership with Ambassador Bond over the past two years.
“Ambassador Bond has really brought with her a wealth of resources and contacts and facilitation that has benefited us across a range of sectors, particularly in national security, some of the assets and efforts that we’ve been making together and particularly in our energy security and energy development.”
Ambassador Bond also noted that it wont be her last time in T&T: “I’ll be back for Carnival for sure.”