MSJ wants a ‘Second Republic’

In his Republic Day message, he asked aloud, “At 40, Republic of T&T, how you feel?” He said a recent poll by Solutions by Simulations showed 100 percent of people are concerned about crime, and 90 percent are concerned about the economy and unemployment.

He said major problems in almost every sphere of national life now arise because the institutions established by the First Republic of September 1976 have collapsed, because they are in essence, the old colonial institutions.

“We have changed the faces of those who run and manage these institutions but the institutions remain the same.” Abdulah said the MSJ has encouraged citizens to hold an ideal of reconstructing our society on a new basis - of social justice, equity and fairness to all without discrimination.

“It all begins with our re-imagining the future! Let us re-imagine what Trinidad and Tobago could be,” he invited.

“Imagine an education system that is fair and equitable instead of today’s two-tier system where a minority does very well and 50 percent fail Maths and English at CSE C.” He hoped for schooling where pupils know their history, economy, political system and role as citizens.

“Imagine a system where children are excited to go to school not to get into mischief or to have sex in an abandoned classroom but to learn, to be involved in sport, music, drama and the arts and to express their cultural creativity.

Imagine schools that are zones of peace and where young people begin to engage in service to community and nation and develop a commitment to work and live in Trinidad and Tobago. That is the Second Republic!” Abdulah imagined a health system where medical professionals visit every home and workplace to teach all how to eat right and take care of one’s health so as to reduce later hospitalisation for diabetes, high blood pressure and heart problems.

“Imagine a health care system where going to the hospital either as patient or visitor is not a distressing experience because there is a shortage of beds, or no linen, or no medicine.” Hoping for a time where medical professionals are plentiful and love their jobs, and where babies and mothers do not die horribly in hospital, he said, “That is the Second Republic!” “Imagine a Trinidad and Tobago where there is peace in every community, where we are our brother and sister’s keeper; where neighbours look out for all the children and where the village raises the child. Imagine a society where young men and women have a sense of hope in the future...That is the Second Republic!” Abdulah envisioned a nation with progressive labour laws, with an economic system where agriculture and farmers are respected as central to development and where cultural creativity is a revenue-earner and job creator. “Imagine an economic system where the resources of the country serve the common good, where we don’t have a few obscenely rich people at the same time that tens of thousands are struggling every day just to survive and take care of their children. That is the Second Republic,” he added.

“Imagine a justice system that is not stacked against the poor and powerless, and where those who are corrupt go to jail no matter how wealthy and powerful they may be. Imagine a system where those who commit violent crimes face the courts and are punished for their deeds, and where the system is not set up so that a few powerful lawyers can manipulate matters so that their clients never face justice and the victims never feel a sense of closure. That is the Second Republic!” “Imagine a political system where... we the citizens have power in our village and community councils to organize for better communities, and where we have a direct say in every law that goes before Parliament, and where there are checks and balances to prevent the abuse of office by any politician or government bureaucrat.

That is the Second Republic!” Abdulah hoped for a nation where all can participate in the process of national development and where, as our Constitution promises, “the economic system will be organized so that the resources will subserve the common good”.