Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley paid tribute to some citizens and their achievements in his message for Republic Day 2024.

Among the names mentioned are Hasley Crawford, Keshorn Walcott, Brian Lara, Kieron Pollard, Dwayne Bravo, Sunil Narine, Earl Lovelace, Beryl Mc Burnie, Geoffrey and Boscoe Holder, Dr Sat and Mondira Balkaransingh, Sparrow, Duke, and Chalkdust.

He also paid tribute to Ambassador Dennis Francis, who just successfully completed his term as President of the United Nations General Assembly.

See Dr Rowley’s Republic Day message:

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.