Republic Day 2014 Message to the Nation Our Republican Constitution was drafted so as to ensure that all citizens, regardless of race, colour, creed or religion enjoy fundamental rights. The Constitution provides safeguards against acts by the executive and other bodies which may be inconsistent with the Rule of Law. It is in fact the supreme law of the land. While we agree that there may be need to revisit the Constitution with a view to making it more relevant to the times in which we live, we also acknowledge that any changes thereto should not be undertaken arbitrarily and certainly not without taking the views of the wider citizenry into consideration. Significant amendments to the constitution should only be undertaken with the greatest care and the widest consultation. On this, the occasion of Republic Day 2014, I invite us all to take time out to reflect on the manner in which recent changes to our Constitution were undertaken and the widespread public dissatisfaction which has been generated. Government must be seen to be accountable, transparent, equitable, participatory, responsive, efficient and effective. We the citizens should have a sense that those we have elected to govern us, have our best interest at heart. Whenever a nation loses that sense, it finds itself on the road to perilous times. Unfortunately, thirty-eight years after attaining Republican status, this is where we find ourselves. A pervading sense of hopelessness in the face of Executive authority has crept into the nations psyche. We are told of the plight of many who say their standard of living has not improved in recent years and in fact are hard-pressed to see any gains from the massive public expenditure over the same period. Notwithstanding these challenges, we must strive to preserve the spirit of republicanism. We have come a long way since 1976 and our national journey continues. With these things in mind, I wish all the citizens of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago a safe and happy Republic Day 2014. May God bless us all. Dr. Keith Rowley.
Posted on: Wed, 24 Sep 2014 03:56:31 +0000
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