THERE are many events that have brought Trinidad and Tobago citizens pride and jubilation, but there also remain menacing issues of crime and violence in the country.
This was part of the message from Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley in a message on the eve of Republic Day yesterday.
He highlighted T&T assuming the presidency of the General Assembly of the United Nations, the signing of an agreement with Venezuela with respect to the Dragon gas field, and the performance of local athletes at the Commonwealth Youth Games among the country’s recent achievements.
“These recent events are plumes, which should bring us all moments of pride and jubilation but there remain, menacing issues of crime, violence, the scripted promotion, by some elements, intended to create mischief, apathy, institutional distrust, and societal discord,” the prime minister said.
“All patriots must become alert. We must speak out against those among us who are bent on lives of crime, and those who will never encourage citizens to accept both their individual and collective, social responsibility,” he advised the population.
Rowley said his greetings on the 47th year of the founding of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago came with “deep feelings of pride for our country, which, in spite of its many challenges, continues to evolve into a great Republic”.
He recalled that, last week, “Our country assumed the presidency of the General Assembly of the United Nations—a position we will hold over the next year. This singular honour proves that though we are geographically small we are not insignificant.
“Presiding over the world body, during this period, which analysts have described as ‘the most fraught and dangerous, since the end of the Cold War’, is expected to be ‘extremely demanding’ for Trinidad and Tobago.”
The prime minister said: “Our presidency of the UN, therefore, should hold every citizen’s personal and daily attention, as it validates our Republic’s status on the world stage—a place that once encouraged cooperation and globalisation is now becoming increasingly fragile and fragmented, with minute-by-minute messages on, wars, climate changes, food crisis, rising poverty, migration, inequality, the universal pandemic, economic pessimism, disappearing opportunities, fake news, social tensions and identity politics.”
The Government was also able to sign a “historic, inter-institutional agreement with the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, which will promote joint projects in gaseous hydrocarbons in the Dragon field located in that country’s territorial waters”, the prime minister noted.
He said “Venezuela’s President, Nicolás Maduro hailed the agreement, stating that the signatures meant the strengthening of relations between Venezuela and our Republic, and carried a message of complementarity, solidarity, and shared sovereignty, and, most importantly, peace for the entire Caribbean”.
During his visit to the UN in New York, Rowley said Venezuela extended “another hand of cooperation” as Minister of Foreign and Caricom Affairs Dr Amery Browne met with his counterpart, Dr Yvan Gil Pino, and a delegation for further discussions on energy cooperation, migration, security and airline connectivity.
“I should also indicate that our Republic has also finalised negotiations with BP and Shell for exploration and production of natural gas in three deep-water blocks—a frontier development project,” he said.
Rowley said the country should also pay tribute to the “outstanding performance of our athletes at the recent Commonwealth Youth Games which we hosted, an event attended by over 1,000 performers from 71 countries. “Praises must be extended to Nikoli Blackman who won three gold medals in swimming and later broke the national 50m freestyle record.
“The haul of medals of these young citizens was our largest ever at these games.”
He also acknowledged Nicholas Paul, “the Republic’s most decorated cyclist, internationally, for his most recent achievement, the silver medal in the men’s sprint at the World Cycling Championships in Scotland”.
The prime minister said the country must be reminded that every republic, at its birth, is a creative, political experiment among its citizens for their common good, a work that is continuously in progress. “Along the way, we will be tested sometimes painfully but we are committed to confronting all the demons and overcoming all obstructions, however, and whenever they come,” he said. “We are, as young senator, Helon Francis, sang in a calypso this year, ‘A Mighty People’. There are social support systems for the needy, educational, and training facilities, modern medical healthcare and numerous opportunities for personal advancement, business and community development.
“Fellow citizens, let us hold fast to what is good and positive as we continue the fight to relieve ourselves of the negative downward influences,” Rowley added.
