PM Manning: Religion must never divide TT

PRIME MINISTER Patrick Manning said religion must never be used for divisive purposes within plural societies and praised the people of Trinidad and Tobago for never falling into this particular trap. In his Divali 2004 message to the nation, the Prime Minister observed: “How often has it been said that paradoxically, while religion is intended to bring people together, it can and has been used for the opposite effect? It is therefore to the credit of the people of our Republic that in celebrating our religious festivals, we aspire more towards the sublime intent and continue to be purposed differently.”

He noted that a fundamental difference of Divali celebrations in TT, compared to similar celebrations elsewhere, “is that in TT it is celebrated by the wider society.” Manning also noted that the Bhagavad Gita warns that “as an individual can drink from any side of a full tank, so too the skilled theologian can wrest from any scripture that which suits his purpose.” The Prime Minister declared: “We must never deviate from the illuminated path that allows our religious celebrations to strengthen our spirituality through appreciation of the love and majesty of God, as reflected in all his human creations.” Manning urged the population to continue to make Divali “one among our annual cavalcade and coming together for the spiritual development of our nation.”