LEADERS' OF GORTT REPUBLIC DAY MESSAGES TO THE NATION

REPUBLIC DAY MESSAGE FROM HER EXCELLENCY CHRISTINE KANGALOO ORTT

President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago on Republic Day 2024

Fellow citizens,

On 1st August 1976, Trinidad and Tobago became a republic - a significant and momentous milestone on our journey of self-determinism. While Independence had granted us full control over our internal affairs, the British sovereign remained our Head of State, with a Governor General as her representative. Achieving Republican status was the next significant step of our journey of self-actualization, with our republican constitution establishing the office of President and transferring all allegiances and power from a distant monarch to the people of Trinidad and Tobago.

A republic, by definition, is a nation-state in which supreme power resides with the people and their elected representatives. The term itself comes from the Latin phrase “res publica,” meaning “public affair.” Embracing republican status requires us to accept that the wellbeing of the republic is indeed a public affair, in other words, a shared responsibility—the responsibility of every citizen of Trinidad and Tobago. Each of us can, and must, actively contribute to the well-being of our republic. Each of us can, and must, engage in the process of nation-building. Each of us can, and must, see ourselves as individual and indispensable architects of our country’s collective future.

Since coming into the republican office of President, I have found that a significant challenge has been getting citizens to step up when called upon to share their talents in this public affair of building our nation’s future, by giving of themselves in public service. Some have doubted their abilities, while others hesitated to commit the time and energy necessary to fulfil their duties as citizens, and as architects of our country’s future.

Citizens of Trinidad and Tobago, our vision of a safe, responsible, and productive nation can only materialise when we embrace our individual and shared responsibilities. Change will not happen on its own, nor can it happen overnight. Instead it is brought about by deliberate, concerted action and activism, personal as well as collective. It is brought about by all of us participating fully in this public affair of republicanism.

This Republic Day, I call on all citizens to discharge our civic duties with pride and vigilance—by participating in the political process, attending public consultations, staying informed about current issues, voicing concerns to our elected representatives, and advocating for causes that resonate with us. Let us take our roles seriously when called upon to serve and act as responsible members of the national community. Let us not content ourselves with sitting on the sidelines or ensconcing ourselves in the position of armchair critics. Rather, let us all answer to the Biblical injunction to “Get up; pick up our mats; and walk”.

Nation-building is often arduous work but Trinbagonians are blessed with abundant stores of confidence, courage, resilience, and strength. Let us therefore be more than mere observers of our nation’s development. Rather, this Republic Day, let us re-commit to stepping out of our comfort zones and into a fuller participation in this “public affair” that is republicanism. Let us put down our loudspeakers and instead, roll up our sleeves and work, including by answering the call to public service, to make our hopes and vision for the future, an achievable reality. 48 years is but a short period of our history, and while we have not yet achieved our full potential, I am confident that we possess the wherewithal to do so. Let us all do so by playing a more active role in the “public affair” that is republicanism.

I wish the citizens of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago a blessed, happy and productive Republic Day.

REPUBLIC DAY MESSAGE FROM THE HONOURABLE DR. KEITH ROWLEY

Prime Minister of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago on the occasion of Republic Day 2024.

Fellow Citizens,

Today, marks forty-eight years since we, the people of Trinidad and Tobago, declared ourselves a Republic, following an evolution of a newly independent nation in its continuing march towards self-discovery, self-assertion, and sovereignty.

On this day, we all can say that this country stands proudly, as a nation established firmly as a respected member on the world stage, and in equal partnership among all other nations.

I bring greetings from the Government of your Republic, my family and myself, as Prime Minister to all citizens here, and those in all corners of the world.

The generation in 1976 that witnessed that historic moment of the transformation of our form of government from monarchical status to a Republic will attest that, since then, our country and the world have undergone fast-paced, radical, and complex changes.

In Trinidad and Tobago, we must continuously ask ourselves: “Am I preparing myself? Am I preparing my children?” For those at all levels of authority and management in every sphere of activity, we must ask, am I contributing to the country’s preparation for the future?

With the spread of artificial intelligence, the world is said to be on the cusp of a Fourth Industrial Revolution (the 4IR) in e.g. robotics, nanotechnology, quantum computing, medical sciences, and energy -- all of which will thoroughly transform our overall lifestyles, how we work, consume, communicate and our individual future.

On another part of the world stage, Trinidad and Tobago just successfully completed its term in the Presidency of the United National General Assembly. This is further testimony to the strength of this country’s foreign policy, formulated in 1962 with respect for the equality and sovereignty of all states, and adherence to international law.

I want to publicly congratulate Ambassador, Dennis Francis, who represented this country in the chair of that UN body, for the efficiency with which he displayed his well-trained diplomatic skills, acknowledging at the same time that he carried on his shoulder the reputation and the ambitions of this young nation.

Overall, this country has made significant progress, which should be felt by and known to all citizens. We are just two small islands, yet our impact on the world stage could be described, objectively, as “phenomenal”. For example, citizens, be reminded always that we created Point Lisas, a mega concentration of energy industries that has been an industrial model, copied across the world. We also created the world’s first gas-based economy.

In Track, we say thanks to Hasley Crawford and the others; in Field, we thank Keshorn Walcott; in Cricket, we thank Brian Lara, Kieron Pollard, Dwayne Bravo, Sunil Narine, and so many other heroes; in Literature, we thank, Earl Lovelace and many others; in Dance, we thank Beryl Mc Burnie, Geoffrey and Boscoe Holder, Dr Sat and Mondira Balkaransingh and so many others; in Calypso, Sparrow, Duke, Chalkdust and many more, have told our stories. We invented and developed the Steel Pan, that instrument, we now share with the world. Our impressive list of heroes is long and continues.

Stepping back, in bacteriological research, our country must thank Dr Lennox Pawan for his internationally-recognised work on the rabies virus; in international politics, we thank “our forgotten son”, Eugene Acham Chen, born in San Fernando, who later grew up in Belmont and became the first Foreign Minister of the Democratic Republic of China, and was considered the “brains and soul” of the Chinese revolution of 1910.

Winifred Atwell played to rave reviews and accepted numerous encores from British and Australian audiences as her exceptional talent climbed to the top of the music charts.

Our impressive list of world-class achievements is long and must always include the contributions of our first Prime Minister, Dr Eric Eustace Williams to the study of West Indian history and Dr Rudranath Capildeo in mathematics.

But recently, a dark side of our country has emerged. Daily media reports are revealing incidents of crime, which are spreading haunting fears among us.

Here, at home, even as we celebrate, we have responded with a significant proportion of national budgetary expenditure spent annually on fighting crime. We must support our Police Service and other security agencies in their efforts to protect and preserve our accomplishments. To allay public fears, the Police Service is now required to be more inventive and forceful in their responses.

An appeal now, on this Republic Day, is to parents and guardians. Change the atmosphere and the mood in your homes. Create a warm culture of love and responsibility. Let your children take love to school every day; let the love in your home transform your community, our community.

Fellow citizens, Trinidad and Tobago is a place of natural wonder and beauty. We own a land which we must further explore, enhance and enjoy.

Let us see our local foliage, our flowers blooming. Let us set about landscaping our homes, and our country. Let us acknowledge all the good about our nation.

Let us all salute our Republic.

Happy Republic Day.