Consider Gandhi a patron saint of politicians: Hamel Smith

The acting president of Trinidad & Tobago, Timothy Hamel-Smith, on Sunday urged citizens to learn lessons from Mahatma Gandhi instead of engaging in what he called the local culture of “tearing others down”.

Hamel-Smith was speaking at celebrations in Port of Spain at an event to mark the International Day of Non-Violence at Gandhi Square, Kew Place, Port-of-Spain. The Indian High Commission hosted the event, which marked the 142nd anniversary of Gandhi’s birth.

Hamel-Smith said Gandhi taught the possibility of greatness.

“Each of us can achieve greatness...Know that greatness will become our destiny.” He said some feel that to become “great”, they must bring others down.

“Some say, I cannot become great unless I tear you down. And so we hear on our talk-shows and news that the emphasis is sometimes on what is wrong with us. We feel the need to tear down rather than build up.

“We have developed bad habits that must change but cannot change unless we begin to look at our beliefs,” he added. “We must ask, what is my belief for myself and for my nation?”

Hamel-Smith, whose birthday is also October 2, said he was glad to be at the event "not only because I share the same birthday as Mahatma Gandhi (but because) we should consider Gandhi the patron saint of politicians.”