As the nation prepares to celebrate its 63rd Independence anniversary on August 31st, a new book reflects on this country’s first sixty years as a sovereign nation.
One of the contributing authors of the book, “60 Years of Independence: Achievements, Challenges and the Road Ahead for T&T,” Dr. Bhoendradatt Tewarie, said the book is more than a historical chronicle of events.
“The intention of this book was always to assess what we had achieved as a country over six decades, where we had fallen short, and where we are now because of the decisions and actions over six decades, and to consider how to proceed now as the future surges towards us.”
Dr. Tewarie added that there are several areas that must be addressed if Trinidad and Tobago is to have a sustainable future, but he focused on one in particular.
“Restructuring the economy for less dependence on energy revenue cannot be deferred. And I think this would be the third thing that we cannot avoid and do, and the book speaks to that in many of the chapters.”
The reviewer of the book, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences at UWI, Dr. Acolla Lewis-Cameron, congratulated the researchers and authors of the publication.
“It was most appropriate for the authors to end with a strategic road map. A road map linking sectoral achievements and shortcomings to concrete steps for national renewal.”
Economists Professor Roger Hosein and Dr. Rebecca Gokool-Bosland and former Minister of Energy Kevin Ramnarine were among the contributing authors of the volume.