Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has condemned what she described as recent racist attacks and growing political hostility, urging citizens to reject division and embrace national unity as the country commemorates Emancipation Day.
Speaking at an African Emancipation Day celebration hosted by the Office of the Prime Minister, Persad-Bissessar said public discourse has become increasingly polarized, with political disagreements sometimes escalating into personal attacks and racial division. She warned that such rhetoric threatens the country’s long-standing tradition of multiculturalism and mutual respect.
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Reflecting on criticism directed at her personally, the Prime Minister acknowledged that the remarks had affected her but said her greatest concern was the damage such divisions could inflict on the nation.
“I have been the target of some words. I will not pretend they did not affect me. But… what saddened me the most… is that sometimes we forget our humanity and get caught up in the words of division.”
Persad-Bissessar reminded citizens that Trinidad and Tobago’s strength lies in its diversity, noting that the nation was built through the contributions of people from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds.
“Our diversity is not our division, but indeed our greatest strength,” she said, calling on citizens to reject language and actions that foster racial or political hostility.
The Prime Minister urged Trinidad and Tobago to draw inspiration from the legacy of Emancipation and to work together despite political differences.
“Together we aspire, and together we achieve,” she said, emphasizing that the country’s greatest accomplishments have come when its people chose unity over division.
Her remarks come amid heightened political tensions, with opposition figures accusing the government of inconsistency on issues of race. Former Housing Minister Camille Robinson-Regis responded by saying she hoped the Prime Minister’s comments would mark a genuine commitment to ending racial rhetoric in national politics.
The Prime Minister’s appeal for unity coincides with Emancipation Day observances across Trinidad and Tobago, a time when the country reflects on the abolition of slavery while celebrating the resilience, achievements and cultural contributions of people of African descent.
Persad-Bissessar concluded by encouraging citizens to move beyond racial and political divisions and to focus instead on building a more inclusive and united Trinidad and Tobago. She said preserving the nation’s social harmony requires every citizen to choose respect, understanding and common purpose over hostility and prejudice.
