She made the comment in a speech at Indian Arrival Day celebrations at the Parvati Girls Hindu College in Debe Wednesday.
She said she would like the various Non Governmental Organisations NGOs, activists and members of the business community join other groups in society to get together to formulate ideas on diversity.
Persad-Bissessar said such a dialogue would seek to bring individuals of different ethnic backgrounds together to explore how all groups can coexist.
Persad-Bissessar said Trinidad & Tobago has already come to demonstrate to the world how true diversity exists.
"I see it as a time when, if we are strong enough as a people to reflect on history, we must be strong enough as a nation, to learn from the teachings of the past to secure what is in front of us for ourselves and our children.
"It is for this reason I would like to call on all our nation's thinkers, our community and social activists, academics, labour leaders, business leaders, religious leaders to form a national dialogue on diversity that brings all interest groups together to discuss how we as a nation can take another step forward towards a very united nation."
Persad-Bissessar added, "I want to make it clear that I am not asking citizens to discuss race relations, our diversity and unity stands upon much more than race relations.
Persad-Bissessar added, "I want to make it clear that I am not asking citizens to discuss race relations, our diversity and unity stands upon much more than race relations.
"We must think beyond the basics. We must go beyond the boundaries. I am not asking for a repeat of the Equal Opportunities Commission which has a strong mandate to protect the rights of all citizens.
"What I have in mind is an emergence of a programme that will support the work of the EOC by assuring that an appreciation for diversity...
"We must eliminate insecurities that are held by some and at times propagated deliberately by some who have vested interest in division and mistrust.
"We must eliminate insecurities that are held by some and at times propagated deliberately by some who have vested interest in division and mistrust.
"We ensure as we embrace each other that no one is less important than the other. We must ensure that the automatic anger and tension between groups become instead one of mutual understanding of differences and a willingness to work together despite differences for greater good."
The Prime Minister said Trinidad & Tobago is a country that people of different origins accepted as home generations ago and the country has made great strides in bringing communities together.
"We must never take for granted the peace and the unity we share in our country," she said, adding that everytime the people are allowed to celebrate their traditions peacefully they must give back some effort to ensure that these traditions continue and grow."
The Prime Minister said Trinidad & Tobago is a country that people of different origins accepted as home generations ago and the country has made great strides in bringing communities together.
"We must never take for granted the peace and the unity we share in our country," she said, adding that everytime the people are allowed to celebrate their traditions peacefully they must give back some effort to ensure that these traditions continue and grow."
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