Wired868 Wired868 for smart sport news and opinion
Speaking at Indian Arrival Day celebrations in Penal on 30th May 2026, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar called for national unity.
She stated that: “We have no Mother India, we have no Mother Africa, we have no Mother China, no Mother Europe, no mother other nation. What we have is Mother Trinidad and Tobago.”
Photo: UNC.
The prime minister used similar words before in 2024, as then opposition leader. The difference is that now the prime minister is the prime minister and the responsibility of fostering such national unity, though not exclusively, predominantly lies with her and her government?
This begs the question: how does one achieve this national unity?
Part of the answer lies in the original quote by Dr Eric Williams from a 1962 speech, at the time of our independence. Yes, the mother of the UNC has quoted the father of the PNM.
According to Dr Williams, in the original quote:
(via CNC3.)
“There can be no Mother India for those whose ancestors come from India… there can be no Mother Africa for those of African origin… There can be no Mother England and no dual loyalties… There can be no Mother China even if one could agree as to which China is mother; and there can be no Mother Syria and no Mother Lebanon.
“A nation, like an individual, can have only one mother. The only Mother we recognise is Mother Trinidad and Tobago, and a Mother cannot discriminate between her children.”
The last line of the quote is fundamental: a Mother cannot discriminate between her children.
Photo: Pan Trinbago.
A Mother should not show favouritism toward some of her children. A Mother should not unfairly share the economic pie, jobs and contracts to some people more than others.
It does not matter if the Mother wears yellow, red, black or blue clothing at the time. It simply should not be the case.
It should not be the case even if it is within the bounds of the law. Beyond the law, there are standards that are expected to ensure perceptions of fairness prevail. A Mother should maintain and elevate such standards.
Photo: UNC.
A Mother should also be balanced in her language towards her children—all her children. Her children from Morvant, Maloney, Penal, Princess Town, Rio Claro and Roxborough. Because she produced them all; even the ones that may have fallen by the wayside.
A Mother should never be divisive and promote fighting between her children. Her children should never be treated as the enemy. This divides the house into “us” vs “them”.
As Sunity Maharaj wrote in her 31st May Express column: “In the process of taking down perceived enemies, propaganda sows hostility and division to create a false reflection of reality which can quickly spring to life as people take their wars from the virtual to the real world.”
(via TTRNA.)
We do not need any wars (virtual or otherwise) amongst ourselves. Singing Sandra’s words echoes strongly: “Nobody wins a war”. Trinidad and Tobago will not win if seeds of division are sowed.
And if a Mother observes such seeds of division being sown, she should condemn it forthright—even if the arguments may appeal to her ears. Because in remaining silent she may appear complicit in these seeds of division.
A Mother does not shut down dissent from her children, especially the young ones who feel empowered to speak up. She should remember that the nation is: “forged from the love of liberty…”
Photo: Roger Lewis/ Look Into My Eyes.
A Mother can disagree with the cause leading to dissent, but the opportunity to speak should remain. Always. A Mother listens, because in listening she learns—she makes better decisions, she grows. We all grow.
A Mother protects the house, and ensures the foundations remain stable. Our foundations of democracy, independent institutions, freedom of the press, and all rights enshrined under the constitution.
A Mother challenges anyone who tries to set fire to these foundations. She does not allow the house to be destroyed for short-term gains.
Photo: UNC.
A Mother does not merely preach unity with words; she manifests these values with policies and actions. A unifying Mother is intentional. She understands that her children emulate her behaviour—not just today, but for generations to come.
If Mother Trinidad and Tobago can provide these things to her children without fear or favour, then perhaps we would not be so focused on our ancestorial origins and histories that separate us.
But instead, we would see the beauty in what we have created, together. What we have built brick by brick from the indigenous peoples to the Europeans, to the Africans, the East Indians, Chinese, Syrians, Lebanese, and everyone else who came in between.
Photo: Nicholas Bhajan/ Wired868.
And then we could all proudly say, like the Mighty Sniper: “Trinidad and Tobago is my land, and of it I am proud and glad.”
In 1937 Trinidad and Tobago, life was not easy. Worker abuse, underpayment of workers, and overt racism were not uncommon. Read more
I write on behalf of the thousands of working men and women of Trinidad and Tobago who spent their entire Read more
Monday morning, 5:45am, Curepe junction. Three maxis pass me—full. Fourth stops. Driver leans out: “Only Sa Wa.” I begged to Read more
“[…] Trinidadians and Tobagonians are resilient people. But what citizens rarely tolerate for long is inconsistency. Once people begin believing Read more
In 1942, Austrian economist Joseph Schumpeter coined the term ‘creative destruction’. It describes a process where innovative products, technologies, and Read more
The UNC won the 2025 general elections promising to transform Trinidad and Tobago’s economic fortunes, treat workers fairly and address Read more
Jamelia Harris is an economist and Assistant Professor at the University of Warwick. She studies and has written on the labour market, public finance and development policy in Africa and the Caribbean. She is a double President’s Medal recipient and holds a PhD from the University of Oxford.
