MESSAGE FROM
THE HONOURABLE PATRICK MANNING
PRIME MINISTER OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO ON THE COMMEMORATION OF
INDIAN ARRIVAL DAY 2008

Today we celebrate the one hundred and sixty- third anniversary of the arrival of East Indian indentured labourers to Trinidad and Tobago.

It is a time to draw inspiration from one of the heroic chapters of our nation’s history, when ordinary people with virtually no material possessions, struggled with courage and perseverance in an alien and hostile environment. They did make a success of their lives and contributed most significantly to the foundations of the civilization that we are building in this country.

One lesson we must learn from this aspect of our history is that no enduring achievement is ever realised without hard work and sacrifice; and that obstacles can be overcome with the will and determination to succeed. It is a message for all times.

We must therefore focus the minds of our young people in particular on this instruction from the experience of our East Indian ancestors. There are no short-cuts to success. Discipline and dedication determine achievement. Our young citizens must also be reminded that this eternal truth is more applicable than ever, in the unprecedented level of competition of the modern globalised environment.  

We must continue to be proud of the triumphs of our people throughout the history of Trinidad and Tobago. Our country has certainly come a long way, from the first encounter between Europe and the Caribbean; to slavery and indentureship; to Colonialism; and then to Independence and the attainment of full sovereignty. It is a great story, rich with experience, of which we must be reminded from time to time and which must be told with enthusiasm and dedication to every succeeding generation.

There is so much to learn from this unique history involving people of different origins from distinctly different parts of the world. In addition to giving us a deeper understanding of our own society, it provides an insight into some of the major movements of history that produced the modern world; enlightening us with a more profound appreciation of our own achievements as well as our position in the wider context of human civilisation.

The government recognises the importance of history. Every society must know its past if it is to develop a deeper understanding of the present, and be better equipped to shape the future.  In the modernisation of the school curriculum, we have emphasised that this subject must be a foundational area in the education of our children.

The preservation of our history helps us to understand the processes that have shaped our society. The system of indentureship is one of the most important developments in the growth of this country. It marked the entry into the nation’s development of a people whose efforts contributed to early economic and social development; and whose descendants have made a most enduring contribution to the prosperous, stable democracy that is Trinidad and Tobago today.

On behalf of the Government, I extend greetings to the nation on the commemoration of Indian Arrival Day.