A medal established by the Queen forty years ago is being withdrawn after it was declared unlawful and offensive to Muslims and Hindus.

The cross-shaped honour — The Trinity Cross of the Order of Trinity — has been handed to distinguished members of the former colony of Trinidad and Tobago.

Cricketers Brian Lara and Garfield Sobers are among those who have received the medal along with diplomats and politicians.

The Christian name and cross are now being replaced with the Order of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago — a circular medal featuring a sun, stars, water and a map of the islands. The Privy Council, made up of 12 law lords, ruled the merit decoration was unlawful because it discriminates against non-Christians.

The Queen established the Trinity Cross in 1969 and it took precedence over all other decorations except for the Victoria Cross and George Cross.

The Maha Sabha, the Hindu organisation, and the Islamic Relief Centre Ltd have been fighting to get a new non-religious order of merit since 2004.

The High Court in Trinidad and Tobago ruled the decoration discriminated against non-Christians but said it did not have the power to invalidate the royal order.

Judge Jamadar said: “The Trinity Cross — the nation’s highest award — is strictly a Christian symbol, and as a result, it discriminates in a multi-religious society.”

Trinidad and Tobago, which gained independence in 1962, is a multi-religious nation with large groups of Catholics and Hindus. Around 24 percent of the population is Hindu, and five percent is Muslim. The Queen is expected to visit in November when the islands host the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.

A review of the British honours system by the Commons Public Administration Select Committee in 2004 recommended reducing the number of decorations from twelve to four, with the new proposed titles having no reference to the Cross or Christian saints.
Comment...
Unlawful? Undesirable by non-Christians maybe, but unlawful? When did we vote to outlaw Christianity? Have I missed something? Perhaps the Queen is also too Christian a symbol as the Head of the Church of England and should commit hari kiri to placate these Nu Caribs? If they don't like the Trinity Cross, let them refuse acceptance. Talk about the tail wagging the dog, this is the tail wagging the owner, the vet, the RSPC and the Dog Licensing Office.