PM chastises ‘bad mouthers’

His advice is contained in his message in observance of today’s 43rd anniversary of Trinidad and Tobago’s Independence.

Manning noted that in the face of our vast achievements, several challenges confronted us. He said our location off the coast of South America made us vulnerable to narco-trafficking and related crimes, but he vowed that Government’s resolve to expunge the undesirables remained "unshakable."

Manning said the quest to eliminate the scourge was unrelenting, and he was confident that the "nation shall be triumphant in the end."

He also observed that transformation, as reflected in our Constitution, was needed in the pursuit of other national development objectives, and although the process had begun in many instances, there was the need to go "further and faster in a rational and thorough manner with continued consultation." Manning said today’s celebrations were also being observed with a "new beginning in the agricultural sector," as the former sugar belt, Caroni, was poised to become a major food basket for the country and the Caribbean.

The PM said additional steps will be taken by the Government to bring about additional transformation and development in the agricultural and other sectors in the next fiscal year to make for a better society and better way of life.

However, he reminded citizens that they must recognise "that the commitment to nation-building cannot be part-time or an ‘on or off’ affair, but requires full and national, as opposed to partial or partisan, commitment." He said there was "no more to be gained than lost through the tendency of some to self-indulgently, flippantly and carelessly engage in the worse kind of negative and unwarranted appraisal of our nation and its progress." Moreso when such appraisal emerged out of a "narrow self-interest, expediency, or even the need for self-aggrandisement."

Manning said by engaging in such behaviour, persons "evade the responsibility of a more sublime response to the patriotic call."

He said believing in our nation is something only we can do, and as we celebrate we must "renew our dedication to nation-building, committing ourselves always to discipline, productive activities and the tolerance required for peaceful development and progress of our nation."