Adaptability, unity, building communities and embracing all cultures in Trinidad and Tobago was the Prime Minister’s Indian Arrival day message, delivered by the Minister of Justice and Minister in the Ministry of the Attorney General Devesh Maharaj on Friday.
The colourful celebrations of Indian arrival Day held at the Mahatma Gandhi Institute for Cultural Cooperation featured musical pieces, dance and tributes from members of the Hindu community.
Minister of Justice and Minister in the Ministry of the Attorney General Devesh Maharaj spoke on the resilience of the United National Congress’s Political leader and Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar.
“That in spite of all the adversity, we were able top stand in all our challenges and succeed. Our political leader is really symbolic of this resilience. We all know in 2015 when we lost the elections, and she spent 10 years in the wilderness and she had to survive and she had to fight off many threats but in the end, she succeeded.”
Minister of Tertiary Education and Skills Training Prof. Prakash Persad urged those in attendance not to forget where they came from but also not to let it hinder them from moving forward.
“It is important that we’re not stuck in the past, only complaining about the past injustices etcetera, we need to move forward. Living in the past prevents us from going into the future. Sow what I would urge the community is that we must ponder and plan the way forward to ensure that our cultural heritage is maintained and flourishes.”
The Prime Minister as stated by the Minister of Justice, called for unity and collaboration to ensure success for the next 5 years.
“The message of our honourable Prime Minister is that we work together, we treat everyone as one family in Trinidad and Tobago, that we continue to be unified as one people , that we embrace all people and all cultures in Trinidad and Tobago and let us move together and stride together so that the next 5 years will be the most fabulous 5 years this country has ever seen in its history.”
Numerous celebrations throughout the day, highlighted the country’s rich East Indian cultural heritage.