View President Paula-Mae Weekes message on the 60th Anniversary of T&T’s Independence above
By Sue-Ann Wayow
TRINIDAD and Tobago is standing at major crossroads as it celebrates its 60th year of Independence.
President Paula-Mae Weekes said while an initial glance at the present day may be a sight of doom and gloom, it was a good time to revisit behaviours and practices that have previously been abandoned.
In her Independence Day message to the nation, she said, “From our present vantage point, the initial impression of the immediate landscape might be one of a wilderness, given the increasingly brazen criminality, ugly divisive politics, rampant unemployment, distressing reports of child abuse and troubling pockets of poverty.”
She said, “Mercifully, this junction also affords the nation the opportunity to look back at its former ways with a view to revisiting some of the more salutary behaviours and practices which we may have unwisely abandoned.”
The President said that while society’s ills existed before, it was not to the extremes that now exist.
Weekes said, “The significant and wonderful thing about a crossroads is that it offers options, a choice of paths for the onward journey. The selection must be made with utmost care and caution. Trinidad and Tobago desperately needs to find where the good way lies and walk in it and we don’t have a moment to spare.”
Using the example of a 60-year-old person who might have matured, learning from experiences and mistake, she said for a 60-year-old nation, the same expectations apply.
“As a people, we have had more than enough time to put aside childish things, our laissez-faire attitude, intolerant viewpoints and perspectives, irrational conspiracy theories and appetite for the latest bacchanal, to stop the blame game, social media character assassinations, the pointless rehashing of old grudges, none of which has yielded any result other than increasing bitterness and disaffection.
“This is the point at which we must take up our precious Georgie bundle of enduring and admirable national qualities and legacies, creativity, diversity, generosity, resilience, energy and passion, among others, hoist it on our shoulders and set course for the future,” Weekes said.
She encouraged all to make the necessary adjustments to personal thinking, attitudes and behaviour, having pride and responsibility for their own affairs.
“A serious commitment in homes, schools, offices, parliament and communities to turn our beloved country around accompanied by the necessary will, patience and endurance will bring about sustainable change,” the President said.
Referring to the national motto, Weekes said it should remind citizens that peace, prosperity and desire cannot be realised unless, though acknowledging diversity, can come together as one people with one vision.
The President ended her statement by referring to Lord Brynner, winner of the Independence calypso competition.
He sang:
Because this is your land, just as well as my land/
This your place and also it’s my place/
So let we put our heads together/
And live like one happy family/
Democratically, educationally/
We’ll live independently.
