Shastri Boodan
Dr Roshan Parasram has been described as "a patriotic man" with "a caring spirit towards people and animals" since he was a child.
Guardian Media visited the community of Mc Bean, Couva, where Dr Parasram grew up and spoke with his parents and members of the community about him being awarded the Order of the Republic of T&T (ORTT) for his service during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sitting comfortably in the gallery of the family home yesterday, his mother, Indra Parasram and father, Laxshmipersad Parasram, 76, recalled that as a child, he loved sports, animals, and people. And as he grew older, he continued to show love for people and his patriotic nature.
Mrs Parasram said so strongly was his love for sports, she had to pull him away from playing cricket with his cousins when he was in Standard 5 at the Chaguanas Government Primary School so he could study for the exams.
She said he played cricket for both his primary school and Presentation College in Chaguanas. "He was a good cricketer, he also played for the doctors (team), he is a good all-rounder," she added. On his love for animals as a child, she said, "I even asked him at one time when he was younger if he wanted to be a vet."
Commenting on Dr Parasram receiving the ORTT at 44, his elated mother said, "He likes his country, he was exposed outside and he said, 'Nah, I going back.' He has a brother that lives abroad, his elder brother (Navin Parasram, the 1992 President’s Medal Winner)."
His dad, meanwhile, said he expected a lot from his children. "From small, they have been doing very well in anything they venture into. He went into the medical field and, so far, he has put out his best."
A young Roshan Parasram rides a pony.
Mr Parasram said his son moved up the ranks and furthered his studies in London where he did a postgraduate degree at the University of London. "Because of his hard work and diligence, he was afforded the post of Chief Medical Officer (CMO). I expect that he will continue in the same vein and put out the very best for his country and his job."
Dr Parasram, they said, worked at several health centres and held the post of head of the Insect Vector Control Unit at one time.
On the commitment to his job during the pandemic, Mr Parasram said his son worked hard. "He never had a holiday in two years. He really put out everything he could have put out. Roshan really dedicated himself to this pandemic and tried his best in every way to make sure the death toll was as low as it could be."
Dr Parasram, they said, had the support of his wife and children while he worked tirelessly and had many sleepless nights. She said, "His phone was ringing all night, he hardly got sleep, that was a really trying and challenging time for him."
His mom said she was also worried that he would have contracted COVID-19. "He would have to go to the hospitals to check. It was a worrying thing to know. He wanted to go to ensure that the nurses who were there were getting counselling. That was one main thing with him, he wanted to motivate them to ensure they stick to their end of the job, the nurses and the people who were working directly with the patients. He was so concerned about them and he wanted to go personally to talk with them, to chat with them."
Mr Parasram said his son getting the ORTT at the age of 44 was a surprise but it was not unexpected because he had always been an achiever. "When they advertised the post, he was the most qualified person at that point in time, so upon his own merit he got the appointment, and I think he is probably the youngest or one of the youngest CMOs we ever had in this country."
Mrs Parasram desires to see her son play a role in improving the medical service for the elderly and the level of service at the health facilities. "He is a selfless person, he loves this hands-on approach."
The Parasrams, who agreed to be interviewed, asked not to be photographed as they try to maintain their privacy.
Residents laud Dr Parasram
*In the Mc Bean community, businessman Sham Ramkisson, the CEO of SJZ Marketing at Deonarine Junction, said he was proud that Dr Parasram was awarded the ORTT. Ramkissoon said "He deserved the award for managing the country’s health crisis. As a resident of Mc Bean, I am proud that a resident of my community could have gone on to play such an important role in the pandemic."
*Rishi Gopaul, 49, a resident of Lakan Trace, said "The entire team of doctors, Dr Maryam Abdool-Richards, Dr Hinds and the others all deserve the awards they received. When you go to the health facilities, the place is so run down and we are accustomed to bad health care at public institutions, no medication, long waiting hours and the place is always packed with Venezuelans.
"However, Dr Parsaram and his team made the impossible possible, so people could get some level of decent treatment and vaccinations during the pandemic. As a resident of the community, I have never spoken with or met Dr Parsaram, but I am glad that someone from this small community could have contributed in such a big way to T&T.
*Anthony Rampersad, a resident of George Avenue, Mc Bean, said "Dr Parasram did exceptionally well with the tools he had. There is no evidence that says he did not perform well, he was a behind-the-scenes man working for the people, which in itself is a symbol of service. His uncle Pundit Parasram performed prayers or pooja at my home and the whole family are respectable people."