Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar on Sunday called on citizens of Trinidad and Tobago to guard against complacency and "jealously protect the freedoms for which our forefathers have sacrificed so much", noting that for "many of them liberty came at the price of their own lives."Speaking at the Brian Lara Promenade at a function to mark Emancipation Day, the Prime Minister noted the significance of the day as a time to reawaken the spirit of liberty.
"In tribute to all who toiled and to those who continue to work to break down the barriers of discrimination, suspicion and mistrust, I say…“Amandla! Power”!
"Power to the triumph of the human spirit and the determination to purge from our society the negative legacy of oppression, domination and racism!" she declared.
Persad-Bissessar paid tribute those who "survived institutionalised inhumanity, humiliation and violence and to emerge with hope, courage and the ability to persevere in the midst of unthinkable suffering to help build our great nation".
She noted that Emancipation on August 1, 1838, destroyed "the moral, legal and institutional basis of a system which allowed human beings to be classified as chattel and denied the most basic human rights."
She said while Emancipation did not end oppression, it set new terms for other groups coming into the society, noting that indentured immigrants from India also suffered "cruelties, indignities and injustice" under the indenture system.
"Emancipation set in train the arduous journey to self-determination, independence and the building of a free, just and egalitarian society," she said.
The prime minister spoke of Haiti's history as the first colonial territory "to break free from the tyranny of slavery and walk the road to liberty" noting that their war of liberation greatly influenced a "tidal wave of action" in the Caribbean, which eventually led to freedom for the enslaved Africans.
She pledged her government's commitment to helping rebuild Haiti after the devastating earthquake of January 12, 2010.
Persad-Bissessar saluted CARICOM Cultural Ambassador Extraordinaire Makandaal Daaga as she spoke of the relevance of the 1970 Black Power Movement, which she said "sought to redress inequalities in a system, which many believed prevented them from realizing their full potential".
The Prime Minister also spoke of the diversity of Trinidad and Tobago and the need for all groups to continue to live in harmony.
"We can take pride in our multicultural society where each group may experience and share one another’s diverse cultural traditions," she said. She challenged all citizens to embrace the real significance of Emancipation day as a celebration of the struggle and triumph over oppression.
"I am certain that you will agree that for any Nation – particularly plural societies such as ours - to truly develop and prosper, each segment of the society must be fully integrated into the collective whole," she said.
"I am not speaking about denial of heritage or the suppression of identity...There is no reason to create artificial bounders around the celebration of our diverse cultural heritage.
"In Trinidad and Tobago mandir, mosque, church or revival tent already co-exist in the same community, at times on the same street.
"The notes of the African drum and the steelpan blend easily with the sounds of the sitar, table, tassa and dholak.
"The religious observances, festivals and commemorations of Christmas, Divali, Eid-ul-Fitr, Phagwa, Hosay and Chinese Arrival are eagerly anticipated and enjoyed by members of the wider population.
She said there are not many countries in "today’s turbulent world which can boast of this level of cultural tolerance and acceptance".
The Prime Minister added, "To our credit, we have created in Trinidad and Tobago an enviable model of cultural and religious harmony."
And she urged everyone "awaken the spirit of liberty...(and) with one voice, one heart and one mind determine to create in Trinidad and Tobago a Nation where everyone finds acceptance and security; where no-one faces the stigma of alienation and where every creed and race truly find an equal place and space."
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