In commemoration of T&T’s 60 years of Independence and 60-year membership in the United Nations, a mural honouring some of T&T icons in different spheres was unveiled on the Harris Promenade bandstand in San Fernando on Tuesday.
In her address, Amanda Solano, UNHCR T&T Head of Protection, said the UN Refugee Agency, together with the UN System in T&T, is working with the Government and civil society to promote the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), including the lofty global aspiration for SDG implementation by the year 2030.
She said, “Admittedly, sometimes thinking of reaching the SDGs by 2030 can seem challenging, as Faine mentioned, only seven years to go but by looking at the achievements of the mural, it gives us hope and also evidence that these objectives are attainable.”
San Fernando Mayor Junia Regrello apologised for the late start, as he complained that as late as 9.30 pm yesterday, people were still feeding homeless people on the promenade. Noting that they were fed at least 12 times due to the Divali celebrations, he said it left a mess which the corporation workers had to clean prior to the function.
He asked those gathered to pause and reflect on the dedication and enormity of effort expended by the men and women depicted in the mural towards the pursuit of art and culture.
He said, “It is only now that our society understands the breath, scope and magnitude of possibilities that a successful career in the industry of arts and culture can provide. The successes of Machel Montano and Kes rests firmly on the shoulders of luminaries such as Black Stalin and Ras Shorty I.”
He added that all artforms hold with them the capacity to provide powerful platforms from which we can encourage our youth into positive behaviours that will enhance their lives and that of the community and our country.
“To show them the possibilities that lie in dance, art and culture, to deviate from the norm, to be unique and influential on an unprecedented scale,” he added.
Local Government Minister and San Fernando West MP Faris Al-Rawi said the mural shows “what it is in the past, what it is in present and where we wish to go to.”
Pledging his support to the UN objectives, he said, “I would like to say to the people of San Fernando, as we coordinate with sustainable development goals, number 17 being the partnership to get it done, that you have the partnership of the Ministry of Rural Development and Local Government. We are 19 entities, 30,000 people, San Fernando is the example of the coordination for these goals. Right here on this promenade, as we treat with some of our homeless issues, mental health where our centres of human kindness and delivery can happen, that is part of the development.”
Former MP Mickela Panday delivered remarks on behalf of her father, former prime minister Basdeo Panday, who could not attend the function owing to his health.
Panday is one of the icons featured on the mural, along with former late prime minister Patrick Manning.Manning’s son, San Fernando East MP Minister Brian Manning, also delivered remarks and noted his father’s passion for the development of T&T.