Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar announced on Sunday that Makandaal Daaga will be appointed as Caricom Cultural Ambassador Extraordinaire. Speaking at an Indian Arrival Day function in south Trinidad, she said Daaga has spent decades working without recognition and help in the cause of promoting the ideals of poverty eradication and giving people, especially young people, a sense of purpose through sports and culture.
"He is a selfless patriot whose service we are so fortunate to still have among us today. And today on Indian Arrival Day we salute him and his lifework," she said.
Persad-Bissessar also spoke about her plan to change the culture ministry to focus on the arts and to give greater voice to the diverse cultural expressions of "our common desires for individual and national identity."
She said there will be a realignment of policies including resource allocation, to allow for a more equitable recognition and fulfilment of the needs of the diverse proponents of the country's culture.
"As your Prime Minister, I look forward to partnering with the East Indian, African, Asian, European and other arts communities as with all citizens, to ensure that our celebration of days such as this are no longer just a formality, but an active reaffirmation of this Government’s commitment to ensure that every creed and race finds an equal place in this land of ours," she said.
The Prime Minister also spoke about the widening gap between the liberated, modern, independent women and "traditional men" who are being left behind.
She said women are out performing men in almost every sphere of life in the society and the women of East Indian ancestry are no exception to this rule, noting that they have broken the cultural mould.
"As we celebrate today, we must recognize that women of this nation have helped shape our future...let us celebrate how far we as a Nation have come. Those of us with East Indian, African, Chinese, Syrian, this kaleidoscope of cultures and traditions. Much has been achieved. Much is left to be done," she declared.
Persad-Bissessar spoke of "better times" when both major groups lived together without animosity of prejudice.
"We need to look at the old time days when our communities raised our children, when your child was my child and my child was your child. And we must do so as one people with one goal.
"This does not mean that one must submerge ones history and ones ethnicity and culture for another. We are who we are because of our differences," she stated.
She urged her audience "to stand proud of your East Indian ancestry. We have much to be proud of, and much to contribute to the nation still. I urge you too to be your brothers keepers as we march forward to build a better nation for us all."
She said, "We can integrate without losing our unique identity because we are a confident, resilient and strong people...Being a true and proud Trini is not in any way inconsistent with comfortably celebrating and retaining our unique identity as the descendants of East Indian immigrants for we too, are part of Mother Trinidad and Tobago."
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