By Sue-Ann Wayow
PRESIDENT Christine Kangaloo is calling on citizens to commit themselves to the vision of a better Trinidad and Tobago.
In an official message celebrating Indian Arrival Day, sent to the media on Friday, Kangaloo reflected on the perseverance and dedication of Indian indentured labourers to build a better future for themselves and their families.
She said, “The story of the arrival of the Fatel Razack at the Port of Spain harbour on May 30th, 1845, and of what happened thereafter, is one of the most powerful and inspirational stories in our nation’s history. It is a story, not just of survival, but of triumph over every imaginable adversity. It teaches us what can be achieved when we persevere and do not give up.”
Kangaloo reflected on the discrimination and hard-working conditions faced by Indian indentured labourers and how they remain grounded by their traditions and deeply held values.
She said through this the Indian community would go on to create an indelible mark of the social and cultural fabric of the T&T.
Kangaloo said, “This year, let us use the occasion of Indian Arrival Day to pay tribute to their legacy, not just by expressions of gratitude and congratulations, but also by the way in which we choose to live, daily. Let us commit to leading lives that exemplify the values they worked so hard to preserve. Let us undertake to do our part to contribute to the growth and development of the country that they worked so hard to build. Let us dedicate ourselves to completing the work that they began to create a more respectful and unified society.”
She said, “The story of Indian indentureship teaches us what can be achieved when individuals choose to commit to a vision greater than themselves. This Indian Arrival Day, let us choose to commit ourselves to the vision of a greater Trinidad and Tobago.”
