Trinidad and Tobago's first Prime Minister, the late Dr Eric Williams, addressed the nation on August 31, 1962, on the attainment of full independence from Britain, and called on citizens to protect democracy."Democracy means equality of opportunity for all in education, in the public service, and in private employment - I repeat, and in private employment.
"Democracy means the protection of the weak against the strong. Democracy means the obligation of the minority to recognise the right of the majority.
"Democracy means responsibility of the Government to its citizens, the protection of the citizens from the exercise of arbitrary power and the violation of human freedoms and individual rights.
"Democracy means freedom of worship for all and the subordination of the right of any race to the overriding right of the human race. Democracy means freedom of expression and assemble of organization.
"All that is Democracy. All that is our Democracy, to which I call upon all citizens to dedicate themselves on this our Independence Day...
"Whatever the challenge that faces you, from whatever quarter, place always first that national interest and the national cause.
"The strength of the Nation depends on the strength of its citizens. Our National Anthem invokes God's blessings on our Nation, in response to those thousands of citizens of all faiths who demanded God's protection in our Constitution.
"Let us then as a Nation so conduct ourselves as to be able always to say in those noblest and most inspiring words of St. Paul, 'By the Grace of God we as people are what we are, and His Grace in us hath not been void.'"
Read the complete speech
Below: Trinidad & Tobago's first leaders: Governor General Sir Solomon Hochoy (left) and PM Dr Eric Williams
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