MP: Never forget forefathers’ struggle

She spoke yesterday at an Indian Arrival Day show at the Sangre Grande Civic Centre on Sukhram Street. She urged students to learn of their ancestors’ contributions as part of their own personal self development. She also said that youngsters must have respect for elders as this will instil discipline that will take them far in life.

“We must never forget that 172 years ago Indian indentured labourers from India made the trip on the Fatel Rozack and it was a perilous journey. We know they came under trying circumstances and it was not an easy journey.

They came and settled here. They worked to develop the country we now love,” Jennings-Smith said.

“Do your part so that their sacrifices will not have been in vain.

They left us with a rich cultural heritage which can be seen in what we eat, in what we wear, in the music we listen to and also in the lessons we learn at home from our elders.” Sharing her own experience, Jennings Smith said one of the lesson leant from her great-grandmother who was an indentured labourer, was the use of mediation to solve communal conflicts.

“When we quarrel and fight among ourselves they used mediation for reconciliation and this is something we need to bring back in our society today especially when we have young children at school engaging in quarrels and little fights. Let us be calm, let us look at what we can take from our ancestors and use it to our benefits,” Jennings-Smith said.

Also addressing the audience was historian Dr Brinsley Samaroo who said although it was a day to commemorate Indian Arrival Day all ethnic groups should be acknowledged because all groups have contributed to the development of Trinidad and Tobago.

He told the principals and teachers it was extremely important to teach students about local history in all schools.