Obama to visit T&T again: Democratic Party strategist

U.S. Democratic Party strategist, Donna Brazile, on Sunday told Chaguanas West MP and Fifa vice-president, Jack Warner - and the youth of Trinidad & Tobago - that U.S. President Barack Obama “will be back” in Trinidad and Tobago.

Brazile was the featured speaker at a forum for youth, titled, "Summit of the Youth" under Warner's patronage at the Centre of Excellence in Macoya, Tunapuna.

Obama was in Trinidad for the Fifth Summit of the Americas from April 17 to 19 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Port-of-Spain.

In his address before Brazile spoke, Warner suggested that he would like to put Obama in the Hasely Crawford Stadium. “He would have been able to talk to about 30,000 children. Imagine, the world’s most powerful person...the 44th president, came to this country.”

Warner borrowed the lyrics of reggae icon, Bob Marley. “Get up; stand up for your right. Don’t give up the fight.”

Read Warner's speech: Warner urges youth to get involved...

Brazile responded: “It is nice to know he (Obama) visited here in his first 100 days. But he still has more days. He will be back to fill every stadium.”

Brazile said Obama reached out to America's youth who were tired of the status quo, and sought change in their country. She said there were those who said it could not be done, that it was not worth the effort, but Obama inspired them with the words: “Yes, we can.”

She noted that now that Obama proved that it can be done, “It is now a melody, a song. Its lyrics are written everywhere; its rhythm is found everywhere.”

She also spoke about Martin Luther King and Rosa Parks, who had pioneered the call for freedom and equality and carried the civil rights movement to the forefront in America.

“King said ‘don’t judge a man by the colour of his skin, but by the content of his character.’ Students of history know Parks refused to give up her seat on the bus.”

Watch Martin Luther King's famous "I have a dream speech" on YOUTUBE

Brazile also spoke of her own story of poverty and determination. She shared the advice her parents passed on to her.

“You have to get a good education. You have to believe in God. Have some self discipline. It’s your turn. Don’t let anyone tell you you can’t succeed,” she said.

“What do you want to change?" she asked Trinidad and Tobago's youth. "Start thinking about your future. Start believing that God has put something in you that nobody can take from you.”