Good afternoon.

I must say that as acting President, and as a citizen of Trinidad and Tobago, I feel a great sense of pride and appreciation as I look upon you, members of the Trinidad and Tobago Cadet Force. I am proud of the dedication, skill and unity you displayed as you marched this morning; proud that despite your youth, you regularly and conscientiously fulfil your civic duties; proud in knowing that you embody and practice many of the values that are critical to the development and progress of this nation.

I also feel overwhelming appreciation and thankfulness. I am thankful that the Trinidad and Tobago Cadet Force has established this noble pathway to responsible and productive citizenship; thankful for the labour of love performed by the adult volunteers who give generously of their time, expertise and effort to guide and steward these young minds and hearts; thankful that for over a century the Cadet Force has equipped the youth of this nation with the wherewithal, skills and tools they need to prosper and thrive.  

It is therefore a pleasure to address you today on the occasion of this annual parade and as you celebrate 114 years of service to God and country. What a momentous achievement! That you are this nation’s oldest youth development institution is truly testament to your strength, resilience and continued importance to our national trajectory. It is indeed a privilege that you can look back on such a long and distinguished history, take stock of past successes and failures and make the necessary adjustments as you chart the course ahead.

It is my humble opinion that your 114 years have been well spent,equipping, preparing and shaping generations of cadets to fulfil their highest potential. Many of your former charges have gone on to contribute meaningfully to this our development and progress, serving in many different roles and capacities. Perhaps the most important role of all, has been that of disciplined, productive and tolerant citizens of Trinidad and Tobago.

For this reason, I find the work of the Cadet Force and similar organisations to be absolutely essential to the national good. The Cadet Force channels the energies and vibrancy of youth into positive endeavours and imbues participants with a sense of national pride and civic responsibility. It ensures that our youngest citizens grasp the fundamentals of citizenship and of how their actions can affect the wider community. It rewards hard work and diligence, as demonstrated earlier, and is indeed an effective incubator for tomorrow’s leaders and pioneers.

It is on account of your hard work and perseverance, that young people have such varied opportunities for training, achievement and personal transformation. I cannot overstate the significance of the Force to the physical, professional and emotional development of our youth and by extension, to the stability and progress of this nation.

Many parents will tell you of the drastic changes they have observed in their children who were exposed to the discipline and structure of the Force. Former members readily credit this institution for providing them a second family and place to flourish, for equipping them with vital life skills, and even, for saving their life. It is my sincere hope that more and more parents and young people would recognise the value that this organisation has added and continues to add to this country.

Being a cadet is, in my opinion, one of the best investments of time and energy that a young person could make. That you are here today already speaks volumes about your mindset and commitment. Cadets, belonging to this organisation broadens your horizons and places you on an accelerated path of growth and progress. The military, leadership, and personal development programmes you pursue today are geared towards preparing you to prosper tomorrow. On the one hand, your military training develops within you, physical strength, endurance, and agility. On the other, you begin to cultivate and adopt salutary qualities such as discipline, diligence, independence, time management and responsibility – qualities embodied by a functional and responsible citizen of Trinidad and Tobago.

One of the attributes to which you are exposed and on which I would like to touch briefly is something that is foremost among our nation’s watchwords, and evident today as I reviewed the Force, inspected the parade and took the salute. It radiates from your crisp uniforms, mirror-finish boots, and synchronised movements. Without it, according to some translations of the bible, we are like a city whose walls are broken down. I am referring to discipline. Discipline is fundamental to our personal and national development. Discipline is about self-control. It is the ability to follow rules and codes of behaviour, to control your emotions and actions and to try, try and try again, even when the task is challenging.

Why highlight discipline? Well, recent experiences brought me to the disheartening conclusion that many young people are held back in life simply because they mistakenly view discipline as being something oppressive or something that robs them of their personality, power and agency.

As someone whose has always been strong willed, but whose life has benefitted meaningfully from exercising self-discipline, I can attest to the fact that it has nothing to do with conformity, or being controlled, but in reality, enables us to achieve our goals. In fact, I once heard someone say that ‘discipline is the bridge between goals and achievement.’ Being self-disciplined can be the key to helping you get to where you want to be and attain the targets you set in life.

For example, when you are disciplined in your studies, you attain a better outcome in your results. When you exercise self-control when engaging with your peers, you become a more reliable, trustworthy and dependable friend. When you demonstrate discipline and respect for our laws, you become a better citizen. Having discipline is therefore not just a personal quality but a national one as well. According to our first Prime Minister Dr Eric Williams, who was a significant figure in our nation’s development and who gave us our national watchwords, “discipline is both individual and national; the individual cannot be allowed to seek his personal interests and gratify his personal ambition at the expense of our Nation.” If we want to make Trinidad and Tobago a better place, we all have to take personal responsibility in doing so; exercising self-discipline is fundamental to that endeavour. Let us therefore each resolve to renew our efforts towards becoming disciplined members of our national community.

Cadets, it is my hope that you continue to practise self-discipline in all that you do. After all, you will one day be the leaders of this nation. Now, more than ever before, Trinidad and Tobago needs individuals who recognise the impact of their actions on the wider community and who are willing to play their part in our development and progress. Keep up the good work, and continue to make this nation proud.

I take the opportunity to commend once again the adult volunteers who keep the Cadet Force machinery running. You have given commendably of yourselves, ensuring that your young charges are ably instructed, guided and stewarded. On behalf of the nation, I thank you for your unwavering commitment and service. The example you set, and the sincerity and compassion with which you operate will have an indelible impact on their lives. Keep nurturing, equipping and shaping them into becoming the very best versions of themselves. 

It is my hope that each cadet here today will make the most of this opportunity. Ensure that you spread the cadet spirit and ethos to your peers, neighbours and friends and perhaps they will be inspired to join you. I look forward to seeing and hearing about your achievements in the years to come.

Happy anniversary once again and may you continue to serve God and country loyally and honourably at all times.

Thank you.