PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad — Finance Minister Dave Tancoo has issued a heartfelt appeal to nationals living abroad to return home and contribute to the rebuilding and advancement of Trinidad and Tobago.
Speaking at the opening of the 38th Annual Divali Nagar celebrations at the NCIC Nagar in Chaguanas on Saturday, Tancoo drew a symbolic parallel between the return of the Hindu god Lord Rama from exile and the call for Trinbagonians in the diaspora to return to their homeland.
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He told the gathering that now is the time for all citizens, whether at home or abroad, to unite in uplifting the country.
“Across the seas live thousands of our sons and daughters—the Trinidad and Tobago diaspora,” he said. “They are scholars in London, doctors in New York, teachers in Toronto, entrepreneurs in Miami, engineers in Dubai, and professionals in every corner of the globe. To you—our brothers and sisters around the world—I say this: your exile is over, and your Motherland, your janma bhoomi, calls for you to come home.”
Tancoo emphasized that Trinidad and Tobago needs the skills, vision, and creativity of its people scattered across the globe. “Raise up this land with your gifts and your presence. Return to your Trinbagonian roots—whether they lie in the hills of Trinidad or the shores of Tobago,” he urged.
He encouraged members of the diaspora to return home not only to visit but to invest, teach, and mentor, helping to build the nation’s economy and nurture the next generation. “We are asking you to stand shoulder to shoulder with your brothers and sisters here—to light deyas not only in foreign lands, but right here, where your navel strings are buried,” Tancoo said.
The minister also took the opportunity to pay tribute to the late Senator Deoroop Teemal, former president of the National Council of Indian Culture (NCIC), describing him as a dedicated public servant committed to preserving cultural traditions and national pride.
“His legacy will live on in every deya lit and in every act of seva performed in the name of culture and faith,” Tancoo said. “May his soul find eternal peace, and may we keep his spirit alive by nurturing the light he so passionately kindled.”
He commended the NCIC for its decades-long role in promoting heritage, service, and unity, noting that organizations like it continue to embody the spirit of togetherness that is vital to Trinidad and Tobago’s progress.
Tancoo’s appeal forms part of a broader national sentiment encouraging diaspora engagement and reinvestment, as the government seeks to strengthen ties with Trinbagonians abroad and harness their expertise to support national development.
