our Destination: National Pride

This Ministry is an answer to the vision which was once voiced by our nation’s first prime minister, Dr. Eric Williams. From the days of his lectures at the Trinidad and Tobago Public Library in Port of Spain and the “University of Woodford Square”, Dr. Eric Williams had a mission to “create a citizenry that was well-informed about its history, conversant with topical matters, and politically conscious”. Dr. Williams called upon the masses to reject the histories written by those who “sought only to justify the indefensible and to seek support for preconceived and outmoded prejudices”.

Following our colonial experiences which according to Dr. Williams “left an imprint on these people”, the journey to national identity formation and “embracing a different construction of themselves would be a slow, arduous process”. His vision was that the government will “embrace all races and colours from all walks of life” and be “dedicated to the pursuit of national ends, without any special privilege being granted to race, colour, class, creed, national origin”.

As a nation, Trinidad and Tobago needs to rise above the tribal idiosyncrasies in conviction of our national identity as one people.

In his inaugural message to the nation on 31st August, 1962, Dr. Eric Williams said,

“There can be no Mother India, for those whose ancestors came from India, there can be no Mother Africa, for those of African origin, and there can be no Mother Syria or no Mother Lebanon. A nation, like an individual, can have only one mother. The only mother we recognize is Mother T&T and mother cannot discriminate between her children.”

This Ministry has worked to champion a sense of patriotism in the citizenry. From patriotism fairs, campaigns, the Year of Patriotism 2012-2013, the national flag distribution, public awareness of key insignia and national emblems to the celebration of nation-building observance such as Independence Day and Republic Day, the Ministry has harnessed the support of the people of Trinidad and Tobago to demonstrate their patriotism and as such, their nationalism.

The Ministry of National Diversity and Social Integration is well on its way to realising Dr. Williams’ dream that each and every citizen regards themselves as truly Trinbagonian.