PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad – The Honourable Patrick Manning, Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago delivers his message to the Nation on the Forty-Seventh Anniversary of Independence.
My Fellow Citizens…
As we approach half a century of
sovereignty, it is a good opportunity to be reminded of the watchwords given to us on the attainment of Independence.
Discipline, Production and Tolerance
are enduring concepts that contributed to producing the best of human civilization.
We should be proud and thankful for the wisdom that provided them as guiding philosophy at the birth of nationhood.
The message to all generations is that, if we apply them in our pursuits as individuals and as a nation, we would always improve our chances of success in the face of so many challenges of life.
After forty seven years, our national watchwords remain as relevant as ever. I exhort all citizens, particularly our young, to reflect constantly on these and to rededicate themselves to the inculcation of these values and principles in their personal and public lives.
Without discipline, there is chaos, mediocrity and failure. We are never at our best without focus, commitment, moderation and willingness to sacrifice and extend ourselves to attain our goals.
Success never comes easy. There can be no great art without discipline and no discipline without self-sacrifice. Without discipline, there is also always the increased possibility of tragic outcomes like broken homes, unfulfilled potential, avoidable accidents and premature demise.
So much beauty and promise tragically lost.
Let us strengthen our discipline for the journey forward. That is our responsibility to ourselves and our country.
Without discipline we will not achieve the very high levels of production that we were exhorted to reach when we were born as a nation.
Productivity is more critical than ever as we face the serious challenges from an economic slowdown. We must all work harder and become more efficient, creative and resourceful. Trinidad and Tobago needs to maintain a satisfactory momentum in this extremely competitive, globalized environment. All citizens must put their shoulders to the wheel. That is our inescapable responsibility as citizens of this country. It is also our responsibility to
continue practising the tolerance that has been an important part of the foundation of our society since Independence.
It has been a fundamental force in the Unity in Diversity to which we adhere in Trinidad and Tobago.
In many ways we have even gone beyond tolerance to deeper understanding, knowledge and appreciation of the various cultural rivers that meet in this nation. There has been so much greater national cohesion as a result. So many new products have been created through the process of deepening unity. There must be absolutely no reversal of this progress.
All citizens, particularly our leaders at all levels, have a special responsibility in strengthening the fabric of our society.
Let us always remember the powerful words of the Psalmist reminding us of how good and pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity.
In the final analysis, it is that sense of responsibility on the part of all to be disciplined, productive and tolerant that saves the day for any country.
This responsible approach must be exercised in every facet of our lives. We must continue to speak of our rights and protect them as vigorously as we can. But we cannot avoid the obligation to act responsibly in the interest of all. No man is an island, as the poet truly spoke. We all need one another and there must be consideration of the family, community and country even as we pursue our individual goals.
We each have a responsibility for the peace, harmony, happiness and prosperity of this country that is irrevocably wedded to the preservation of our democracy and our rights and freedoms as human beings.
Let us always be patriotic and do everything we can to be proud nationals of Trinidad and Tobago. Let us together aspire so that we can achieve together for a better Trinidad and Tobago.
I have great pleasure in extending greetings and congratulations to all citizens on this forty-seventh anniversary of our nation’s attainment of Independence.
May Almighty God bless our nation.
Thank you and good night.
The Honourable Patrick Manning, Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago
