Dec 2012 - High Commission for the Republic of Trinidad & Tobago ...

News
50 years of a strong T & T
Two thousand and
twelve is a special
year. Not only does it
mark the Jubilee of
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth
the Second, but it is a year
when the United Kingdom
has hosted a very successful
Olympics, and it prepares to
host the Paralympic Games.
Although we did not receive
as many medals as the United
Kingdom, Trinidad and Tobago
stands proud having fielded its
most successful team to the
London Games. For Trinidad
and Tobago to commemorate
its 50th Anniversary on what is
already an historic year is truly
significant.
For us those of us at the
Trinidad and Tobago High
Commission in London, the
Culture Fest was the launch
of our 50th Anniversary of
Independence celebrations.
As we approach this milestone,
we must reflect on the road
to 50. Five decades ago we
were being advised to take
independence very seriously.
Today we can say that we did.
Trinidad and Tobago at 50
has succeeded in building
a strong economy and an
even stronger sense of self.
We have produced men and
women who have excelled in
many fields. We have produced
Nobel laureates and beauty
queens. This year our Olympic
athlete Keshorn Walcott made
us very proud with his gold
medal throw in the men’s
javelin. As did double bronze
medal holder Lalonde Gordon,
6
and the rest of the men’s
4x400m relay team of Deon
Lendore, Jarrin Solomon and
Ade Alleyne-Forte and our
entire Olympic team.
Our citizens have contributed
nationally and internationally
and they will continue to do so.
Our government is stable and
is moving forward with a wellestablished
plan to improve
the lives of our citizens and
secure our future as a world
leader.
So what was the journey like?
From inception, independence
meant that we had to begin
thinking very seriously about
who and what we are as a
country. We had to figure out
what we hoped to achieve and
how we hoped to shape our
nation. To do that we had to
ask ourselves some very hard
questions. What does it mean
to be a citizen of Trinidad
and Tobago? What are the
hallmarks of our culture, our
national vision? In essence,
what does it mean to be a
‘Trinidad and Tobagonian?
We started with the design
of the National Flag. The
colours of Red for the vitality
of our people, the warmth
and energy of the sun and the
courage and friendliness of
our citizens. White for the sea
that surrounds our beautiful
isles and for the equality of all
of the men and women who
live in our country. Black as a
symbol of our strength and the
natural resources that we are
so blessed to have.
As well as defining ourselves
as a people, independence
renders us responsible for our
citizens, our resources and
our development. This meant
taking charge of our resource
management, which we have
done wisely.
We started by investing in
our citizens. One of the first
commitments we made to our
people was making education
a priority. Trinidad and Tobago
in 2012 has accomplished
the goal of Universal Primary
Education, Universal
Secondary Education and
we heavily subsidise Tertiary
Education. If the future of
Trinidad and Tobago lies in our
students’ backpacks, then it is
very secure.
That is why we took our
commitment to meeting the
Millennium Development Goals
very seriously. As it stands in
2012 we have addressed all of
the eight goals. I have already
London Mission