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| PM Kamla Persad-Bissessar addressing the huge crowd at Mid Centre Mall Thursday night |
She said contrary to what her critics were saying there was every reason to celebrate because two years ago her People's Partnership freed the country from PNM rule.
"Can you think of a better reason to celebrate than the freedom of a nation? Can you think of a better reason to celebrate than the formation of the most representative national party ever in the political history of Trinidad and Tobago?
"Can you think of a better reason to celebrate than the great strides we have made in just two short years of which I will account to you tonight?" she stated.
She said the People’s Partnership was born out of the desire of the people "so tonight we make no apologies for a celebration that heralds performance by a Government that is unparalleled in just two short years, with a commitment to nation building that is more robust than ever before."
She added, "Even if others would want to betray your trust, to serve the narrow interests of just a few, I will not!" She said the period of change since May 24, 2010 has created such stark divisions with some "because the days of Government when the national interest was sacrificed at the altar of narrow, selfish demands are gone!"
She admitted that there have been differing views, adding that it is a strength rather than a weakness because "we have fostered a culture in which there is open and free expression."
She said the partnership operates on a collaborate approach where "our diverse composition and coalition of interests require us to respect different views so that individual philosophies and national agendas would not be stifled nor ever held accountable exclusively to a Maximum style leadership...The People’s Partnership is about Diversity not Adversity."
She added that the coalition is bound by a genuine interest in finding common solutions in the national interest through these diverse perspectives. "We are strengthened by the diversity of ideas and ideals," she said.
"Can you think of a better reason to celebrate than the freedom of a nation? Can you think of a better reason to celebrate than the formation of the most representative national party ever in the political history of Trinidad and Tobago?
"Can you think of a better reason to celebrate than the great strides we have made in just two short years of which I will account to you tonight?" she stated.
She said the People’s Partnership was born out of the desire of the people "so tonight we make no apologies for a celebration that heralds performance by a Government that is unparalleled in just two short years, with a commitment to nation building that is more robust than ever before."
She added, "Even if others would want to betray your trust, to serve the narrow interests of just a few, I will not!" She said the period of change since May 24, 2010 has created such stark divisions with some "because the days of Government when the national interest was sacrificed at the altar of narrow, selfish demands are gone!"
She admitted that there have been differing views, adding that it is a strength rather than a weakness because "we have fostered a culture in which there is open and free expression."
She said the partnership operates on a collaborate approach where "our diverse composition and coalition of interests require us to respect different views so that individual philosophies and national agendas would not be stifled nor ever held accountable exclusively to a Maximum style leadership...The People’s Partnership is about Diversity not Adversity."
She added that the coalition is bound by a genuine interest in finding common solutions in the national interest through these diverse perspectives. "We are strengthened by the diversity of ideas and ideals," she said.
"None of us can be considered stronger, nor our interests more important, than ALL OF US working without any sense of surrender. Withdrawal...flies in the face of our collective commitment to those who voted for our unanimity of purpose in their interest.
"And I say to you tonight, anyone who violates that sacred trust will have abdicated that responsibility to all groups in our nation.
"We understand the dynamics of the social and political shifts taking place in the nation today created by the first diverse government of its kind led by this woman from Siparia.
"Revolutions such as this rarely occur without the kind of reverberations we are experiencing," she added. "This is an exciting time of change in Trinidad and Tobago’s history which began just two years ago."
Persad-Bissessar said the change that has excited the majority has frightened and incited a handful of persons who wish for change on their terms only. "This is why your Government is under attack. We are under attack from both within, and without," she said.
"Those who are standing in the way of change have mounted a vicious and unrelenting attack on us, using every resource at their disposal wherever they may find ready recruits of destabilisation.
"Whether they find them in the media, whether they find them in the public service, whether they find them in labour, whether they find them even within our own membership, they will use whatever and whoever to advance their cause against the changes we are working so hard to implement.
"But you bought this freedom through sweat and tears over decades of toil and sacrifice and they are not ready to surrender it so easily.
"You recognise that as challenging as the change is to be made everywhere immediately, the People's Partnership represents the best opportunity for positive political, economic and social transformation. Ours is the only true national party.
"We fought as different parties on one platform, and now we govern with diverse views, but with one common purpose – the upliftment of the people of our country.
We stand for genuine social change, extending helping hands not handouts.
"We stand for financial prudence not squandermania and buckling to all demands from every sector. We stand for a better life not the only life we have to accept. We stand for equality not for some, but for all."
The Prime Minister acknowledged that her Government was voted into office with huge expectations and demands for instant gratification.
Decades of despair meant that an impatient world awaited those needs and today some feel a sense of disappointment that the change is not as rapid as they would have expected, she said.
Persad-Bissessar reminded her audience of the days before the People's Partnership when citizens were treated with contempt by a government that didn’t and couldn’t care. She said that is changing as her government makes the country safer rebuilds confidence in the economy.
"And I say to you tonight, anyone who violates that sacred trust will have abdicated that responsibility to all groups in our nation.
"We understand the dynamics of the social and political shifts taking place in the nation today created by the first diverse government of its kind led by this woman from Siparia.
"Revolutions such as this rarely occur without the kind of reverberations we are experiencing," she added. "This is an exciting time of change in Trinidad and Tobago’s history which began just two years ago."
Persad-Bissessar said the change that has excited the majority has frightened and incited a handful of persons who wish for change on their terms only. "This is why your Government is under attack. We are under attack from both within, and without," she said.
"Those who are standing in the way of change have mounted a vicious and unrelenting attack on us, using every resource at their disposal wherever they may find ready recruits of destabilisation.
"Whether they find them in the media, whether they find them in the public service, whether they find them in labour, whether they find them even within our own membership, they will use whatever and whoever to advance their cause against the changes we are working so hard to implement.
"But you bought this freedom through sweat and tears over decades of toil and sacrifice and they are not ready to surrender it so easily.
"You recognise that as challenging as the change is to be made everywhere immediately, the People's Partnership represents the best opportunity for positive political, economic and social transformation. Ours is the only true national party.
"We fought as different parties on one platform, and now we govern with diverse views, but with one common purpose – the upliftment of the people of our country.
We stand for genuine social change, extending helping hands not handouts.
"We stand for financial prudence not squandermania and buckling to all demands from every sector. We stand for a better life not the only life we have to accept. We stand for equality not for some, but for all."
The Prime Minister acknowledged that her Government was voted into office with huge expectations and demands for instant gratification.
Decades of despair meant that an impatient world awaited those needs and today some feel a sense of disappointment that the change is not as rapid as they would have expected, she said.
Persad-Bissessar reminded her audience of the days before the People's Partnership when citizens were treated with contempt by a government that didn’t and couldn’t care. She said that is changing as her government makes the country safer rebuilds confidence in the economy.
"While the world is reeling under a recession and cutting back we're still prudently managing the affairs of the state, creating employment, improving wages, setting new standards for a better quality of life despite the inheritance of a depleted Treasury and previous commitments to wanton wastage of the previous regime.
"We must not buy in to the propaganda and misinformation and self-interests of some. They are telling you that your Government has not performed. And let me say that while it is the most dishonest form of propaganda, do not let your own anxiety for rapid results cause you to believe the untruths.
"That is why we needed to come to the nation and account for our time in office. This is why we have come to tell you that just because activity is not concentrated in Port of Spain, it doesn’t mean that nothing is happening."
Persad-Bissessar reminded supporters of her government's performance and achievements over two years. She said the opposition told citizens her coalition would remove certain benefits. That's not what happened, she said, and admnitted that the administration did remove some things.
"We removed arrogance in government. We removed Maximum style leadership.
We removed squandermania. We removed the prophetess or rather it seems she removed herself and is banished somewhere. We removed corruption.
"And of course we removed the former administration, two years ago on this very day, Freedom Day for the nation.
"And we replaced it all with sincerity of purpose, with humility, with courage, with respect for all people regardless of colour class or creed. And more than anything else I lead by listening to all views.
"Even as discredited as they are I even listen to the Opposition though I must admit that I listen to the Opposition Leader so that I know what not to do," she said.
Persad-Bissessar announced that on June 11 the government would introduce the Character Education and Citizenry Development programme in all primary schools, which has only recently been mandated to be introduced in schools in countries like China.
"They have recognized the benefits of teaching children from primary school the benefits of a sound moral education.
"Our Character Education and Citizenry Development programme will meet the ideal of raising emotionally balanced, socially compassionate individuals with a solid value system.
She called on everyone to "Stand strong". She said, "You bought this freedom and you must never, never, never surrender that freedom". CLICK HERE to read the PM's complete speaking notes
"They have recognized the benefits of teaching children from primary school the benefits of a sound moral education.
"Our Character Education and Citizenry Development programme will meet the ideal of raising emotionally balanced, socially compassionate individuals with a solid value system.
She called on everyone to "Stand strong". She said, "You bought this freedom and you must never, never, never surrender that freedom". CLICK HERE to read the PM's complete speaking notes
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