Kamla: Champion the public good

“Our society remains stratified on social and economic grounds with an imbalance between the rich and the poor, which is a glaring defect in our Republic,” Persad-Bissessar hit.

“Our economy is stagnating, crime is the worst ever, there is a growing army of jobless and a social safety net meant to protect the poor and vulnerable has all but disappeared.” She said this state of affairs does not reflect the founding principles of the Republic.

“Some seem to have abandoned those who are less privileged in their quest for power and fame with the result that they have shifted the focus from a just society in which each of us would always remain free to enjoy the bounties of our state to one where a privileged few control the destiny of the masses. Still I urge you to never despair.” Per sad-Bi s s es sar urged citizens to have big hopes and dreams, and be guided by virtue and high morals.

“Whatever our differences, we must continue to hold a positive passion for the public good. We must always strive to guard the public interest through service, not through power and glory,” she said.

“And more than anything else, let us stand on guard and protect our freedoms, and those institutions that are the bedrock of our free and democratic state.” She advised that now is a time to reflect on TT’s road to self governance and whether we need to explore different routes to create a just society where everyone enjoys freedoms and lives as one family, as our Creator meant it to be. “Perhaps now is a good time to ask if our constitutional arrangements need refreshing to suit the needs of our unique society and whether our institutions are serving us as they should.”