As we observe our pinnacle of statehood, Republic Day, allow me, on behalf of the Patriotic Organization of Trinbago as co-ordinator, to greet you all. What a joy to note that this coincides with our Prime Minister addressing the United Nations.
Small country but overwhelming in worth and international, as calypsonian Sniper implied in his immortal song Portrait of Trinidad. We are in Patriotic Month, as decreed August to September, and quite rightly so as our Constitution was enacted for Independence in August and paved the way for Republicanism.
In greeting the nation today, I wish to ask that we seek to get away from being “partyotic” and become “patriotic”. Whichever government is in power, should make no difference to our commitment to our country.
As we strive to develop this great nation, a sense of rededication is needed. My organisation is seeking to create opportunities for such. Come November 16, we host a song writers workshop, as a forerunner to another Patriotic Song Competition in 2020.
All genres of music shall be catered for,thereby allowing for anthems fit for churches, schools, groups of all pursuits to compose their anthems, as a form of identity.
The foresightful, Dr Eric Williams, gave us the Watchwords, Discipline (as against order), Production (needing continuous assessment) and Tolerance (to remind us of our need to understand each other). These are relevant words today.
Immortal words of the lyrics of Lord Bryner, Independence Calypso Monarch of 1962, likewise include,
“This is your land just as well as my land
This is your place and also it’s my place,
So leh we put our heads together and live like one family,
Democratically, educationally,
We go live independantally.
May God continue to bless, Our Nation of Many Varied Races.
Let us possess the binding forces of that common that can make us a greater Nation.
For Patriotic Organization of Trinbago
Lennox Sirjuesingh