T&T – Rowley Demands PM Apologize For Racist Independence Speech 

Former Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley is demanding that Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar apologise to the nation over statements she made in her Independence Day messages, accusing her of using divisive and racist rhetoric that could threaten Trinidad and Tobago’s social stability.

In a statement, Rowley described Persad-Bissessar’s remarks as “dangerous” and accused her of targeting both the Arab and Afro-Trinidadian communities. He said the Prime Minister’s language amounted to a campaign of racial division and called on her to withdraw the statements and apologise.

Rowley specifically objected to the tone of Persad-Bissessar’s messages issued for the country’s 64th anniversary of Independence. In one message directed at supporters of the United National Congress (UNC), the Prime Minister told the party’s “family” that “it’s either peace or total war, nothing in between,” while urging supporters to remain united and determined.

The Prime Minister also criticised the opposition People’s National Movement (PNM), accusing it of using race and hatred for political purposes. In a separate national Independence message, she argued that Trinidad and Tobago should take greater responsibility for its development rather than continuing to blame the country’s colonial past.

Rowley said such rhetoric risks damaging the racial harmony and stability that he considers among the country’s greatest strengths. He described the comments as particularly inappropriate during an occasion intended to celebrate the nation’s unity and independence.

The controversy has drawn criticism from other political figures. Opposition Leader Pennelope Beckles and Mickela Panday have also questioned the tone of the Prime Minister’s Independence messages, with concerns that the language could deepen political and racial divisions. Political analyst Dr Shane Mohammed, however, offered a more favourable interpretation of the national message, saying it provided an opportunity for reflection on the country’s development.

Persad-Bissessar has rejected the criticism and said she stands by her Independence Day statements. The dispute adds to increasingly sharp exchanges between the government and opposition as political tensions continue in Trinidad and Tobago.

With racial relations and political division remaining sensitive issues in the country, Rowley’s call for an apology has placed the Prime Minister’s Independence Day remarks at the centre of a wider debate over the language political leaders use when addressing national and partisan audiences.