Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has urged Trinidad and Tobago to take greater responsibility for the country’s development, arguing that its continuing challenges should not be attributed primarily to the colonial past.
In her Independence Day message marking the 64th anniversary of independence, Persad-Bissessar said Trinidad and Tobago must examine its record since gaining independence in 1962 and acknowledge that the country could have achieved considerably more.
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“The British left us a very prosperous, functioning country in 1962,” the Prime Minister said, adding that after 64 years, it was time for the nation to “grow up” and stop blaming its problems on its colonial history.
Persad-Bissessar pointed to Trinidad and Tobago’s economic position at independence, noting that the country had a relatively high per-capita income compared with several nations that have since surpassed it economically. She argued that the comparison should encourage citizens and successive governments to reflect on the decisions made during the decades following independence.
Her comments come as Trinidad and Tobago marks another Independence anniversary amid continuing concerns over economic diversification, crime, public services and the country’s dependence on energy revenues. The Prime Minister’s message placed particular emphasis on accountability, suggesting that responsibility for the country’s present circumstances rests increasingly with its own institutions and leadership rather than with Britain.
Trinidad and Tobago became independent from Britain on August 31, 1962, under Prime Minister Dr Eric Williams. The country retained the British monarch as head of state until becoming a republic in 1976, when the office of President replaced the monarchy.
Persad-Bissessar’s assessment of the colonial legacy is likely to generate debate, particularly because questions surrounding colonialism, slavery, indentureship, land ownership and economic inequality remain part of discussions about Trinidad and Tobago’s development. Critics of her position argue that the effects of colonial-era policies did not disappear with independence, while others maintain that the country has had more than six decades to address its own structural problems.
The Prime Minister nevertheless used the Independence message to call for a forward-looking approach, saying the country must honestly assess its post-independence record rather than remain focused on assigning blame.
Her remarks come as Trinidad and Tobago enters its 65th year as an independent nation, with the government facing pressure to improve economic performance and strengthen public institutions while addressing longstanding social challenges.
The Independence anniversary therefore provided Persad-Bissessar with an opportunity not only to celebrate the country’s achievement of nationhood but also to challenge citizens and leaders to take greater ownership of its future.
