PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) – Trinidad and Tobago is celebrating its 53rd anniversary of political independence from Britain with the thoughts of the political leaders of the country fixed on the September 7 general elections and the destruction that occurred in the neighbouring island of Dominica.

President Anthony Carmona in his Independence message urged Trinidad and Tobago to spare a thought and prayer for Dominica recovering from the passage of Tropical Storm Erika that left 25 people dead and many more missing and presumed dead.

 “We must not therefore, only simply spare a thought or a prayer for our Caribbean brothers and sisters in Dominica who suffered great loss of life and worrisome displacement from Tropical Storm Erika — a small country with a small population that makes the loss of some 29 lives severe and heart wrenching.

“The frivolity and happiness that we feel and experience on this wonderful day, must however give way to sober reflection how as a member of the Caribbean community we can help Dominica and each other. “We must therefore come to their aid in a meaningful way because as an independent and interdependent nation, we must always be involved in the business of humanity,” Carmona said.

He said as a relatively young nation, Trinidad and Tobago has “displayed worldwide prowess and the power and dynamism of our people through academia, business, food, music, our international persona and our defining cultural “Callaloo” are assured, taking our rightful place on the world stage.

“This is not to say, that we have not as a nation, sometimes stumbled along the way. In a relay race, the runner sometimes stumbles but notwithstanding even when we have, we did not lie prostrate and we have in some measure learnt from our mistakes, the bruises with the panacea,” he added.

He said the island’s wealth, natural and human, does not make it impervious to the vagaries of international politics and economics and of course, Mother Nature. 

“We are interdependent in a way never before experienced by our forefathers. Globalisation has forced us to reinterpret an independence that recognises the need in us to go beyond our insular concerns and geographical boundaries and that interdependence, is critical for the survival of any progressive nation.”

In her independence message, Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar, who is seeking another five-year term in office, said everyone can be very proud of the achievements, development and influence as an independent nation.

“We are a model to the world as a diverse nation of people of many origins who have been able to forge an enduring unity. We are richer for our diversity and differences and we are stronger as a nation because of the harmony which exists.”

She told the nation that the challenge now is to ensure an “even better future for our children.

“We can be very proud of the performance of our economy, our education system, our healthcare, our infrastructure and our provision of homes. We can also be proud of our achievements in sports, through cricket, football, boxing, and athletics. But let us make the most of what we have and move forward to a better tomorrow. 

“Let us all work to continue the progress made since independence and to secure an even better future for Trinidad and Tobago.”

Opposition leader Dr. Keith Rowley said as the oil-rich twin island republic celebrates its 53 rd anniversary of independence, it is doing so “facing challenges across the landscape of government and markets and the very value system on which this country was founded.

“We meet this anniversary of independence, with our people’s patience and confidence in our Government, at a historic low. We have witnessed behaviours and actions from high office holders that we could not previously fathom.

“Fundamental rights were stripped away by an unexplained State of Emergency. We have seen openly biased attempts to tamper with our electoral system. We have seen an epidemic of corruption in all forms, and stood horrified by the indignity and arrogance of those whom we have elected to serve us.

“We have seen our Parliament misused to meet unjust and undemocratic agendas. We sat confused through numerous Cabinet reshuffles and ministerial firings and hirings.”

He said that the country has witnessed a public crisis of confidence in its independent institutions, “on which our democracy is seated.

“In the past months I have spoken to large swathes of citizens, all concerned, as it seems that bad behaviour in public and private office has been protected and even rewarded. They were disenchanted that the state institutions on which we depend to seek our interest, were unwilling or unable to intervene, or bring resolution or clarity to issues before us.”

Rowley said he holds ‘an unshakable belief that everything that is wrong with our country can be fixed, with everything that is right in our country.

“I have an abiding belief that the dignity and decency of our citizens form the backbone upon which our past and future was, and still is dependent and it is what our Government must reflect.”

Meanwhile, Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretary General Irwin LaRocque said as a founding member of the regional integration grouping, Trinidad and Tobago, has continued to play a meaningful role in CARICOM.

“As Trinidad and Tobago continues on its development path, the country can be assured that the Caribbean Community will be rendering its full support in the knowledge that its greater development can only redound to the benefit of the entire community,” LaRocque added.