Chairman of the Clico Policyholders Group Peter Permell said he was in shock and disbelief after hearing former Clico executive chairman Lawrence Duprey and recipient of the nation’s second highest award—Chaconia Medal (Gold)—say the nation can take it back if they wanted it.
Permell said Duprey should return the award to the country to assist in the Commission of Enquiry into Clico and the Hindu Credit Union or face the possibility of being stripped of the national award. In a statement issued Permell said: “We just could not fathom how this individual, who was once held in such high regard by the citizens of this country and who has benefitted so much over the years from the patronage and loyalty of thousands of policyholders to the ‘Clico brand’, could be so callously ungrateful and dismissive of these very same people.”
Permell said: “Upon reflection, after coming to terms with this sudden bout of cognitive dissonance, we reasoned that perhaps the fault really lies with us for expecting a little too much from this estranged son of the soil. He said: “Based on Duprey’s comments we are of the considered opinion that he has forfeited any modicum of entitlement that he had to this honour and should as a consequence send it back to the President.”