PRIME MINISTER DR KEITH ROWLEY'S REPUBLIC DAY MESSAGE
The following has been submitted by the Office of the Prime Minister:
"Fellow citizens of Trinidad and Tobago
Today we celebrate the 39th anniversary of our country’s Republican Status.
Simply put, today we recognise and commemorate that historic day on 1st August 1976 when we, as an Independent Nation, took that defining decision that we no longer owed allegiance to the Queen of England; but rather that we had attained the maturity and confidence to fully govern ourselves through our own Head of State, the President, nominated from the citizenry.
We celebrate the holiday annually on the 24th September, as that was the date in 1976 of the first meeting of Parliament under the new Republican Constitution.
Governed by our Republican Constitution, Trinidad and Tobago subscribes to a body of rules and principles which ensures that all citizens regardless of race, sex religion, political or other opinion, status or birth enjoy fundamental human rights and freedoms.
Equally as important, our Constitution created various Service Commissions and an Integrity Commission to facilitate impartiality, correctness, decency and morality in public affairs.
I say to you today that my Government will bring to this nation accountable, responsive, transparent, equitable and efficient governance.
In moving forward, every citizen of this Nation will become inspired to do what is right, what is necessary and what is in the best interest of our communities and our country.
Our onward journey may be dotted by a few challenges. But let us trust in that same acumen, determination and self-assurance which guided us to embrace a Republican status, to lead us to even greater achievements and success.
I give you my commitment that I and the members of my government, working closely with you, will use our expertise and experience, to put Trinidad and Tobago on a path to real transformation, growth and peace.
On this, the occasion of Republic Day 2015, let us all accept the responsibility we have as citizens to our nation and re-commit to building an even stronger Trinidad and Tobago.
It is with this understanding that I make a call to the entire nation to designate and observe this Republic Day as a day of Thanksgiving and prayer, as we continue to ask God’s blessings on all the people of Trinidad and Tobago.
I wish you all a very happy and safe Republic Day.
May God continue to bless us all and may God bless our Nation."
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