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Address from Her Excellency at the 39th Baal Vikas

Mar 2, 2024

Address from Her Excellency at the 39th Baal Vikas

Sita Ram and Good Morning.

My husband and I wish to thank the Sanatan Dharma Maha Saba for its kind invitation to attend the 39th Baal Vikaas Festival this morning, and for its extremely warm welcome to us. I would also like to say thank you for allowing me the opportunity to address you, very briefly, this morning.

As you know, one of my main areas of interest as President, is our country’s young people. This is one of the reasons that I am so thrilled to be here this morning – because the Bal Vikaas programme focuses heavily on our primary school children. Another reason that I am so interested in the programme is because, as I understand it, the true meaning of “Bal Vikaas” is “the Blossoming of the Child”. What a beautiful idea to bring alive by means of this programme.

The beauty of the programme is not just in the majesty of its conceptual framework, however; it is also in the power of its actualised objectives.

I have been told that its objectives include the creation of an environment of respect, tolerance and harmony for students of all cultural and religious beliefs; complementing the school’s curriculum and assisting in the holistic development of the child; and providing an opportunity for the community and school to work together – to name just a few.

You will understand, therefore, why it is I stand in wholehearted support of this programme. I do so because the preservation of our peoples’ history and culture is an indispensable and critical component of nation-building. I do so because I believe that it is the duty of all agents of socialisation – the principal ones being the family, schools and religious institutions – to ensure that our history and rich culture are not only learned, but are actively observed and respected by our children. I do so because it is only when a people know and respect their history and their culture, that a society is able to share a common memory of where it has been, of what its core values are, and what is the direction in which it wishes to go. And I do so because, by immersing our youth in our nation’s history and culture, the Bal Vikaas programme plays a vital role in equipping our nation’s children to undertake the task of asking probing questions about our society, and also, of answering them.

I therefore commend and congratulate the Sanatan Dharma Maha Saba for establishing and for continuing the Bal Vikaas programme for the past 39 years. I commend and congratulate you for providing for our primary school children, a safe space and a platform for them to build their self-confidence; for them to foster teamwork and engender team spirit; and for them to foster healthy inter-school competition – all of which help to create well-rounded and empowered citizens.

I commend, as well, the parents who, by encouraging and permitting their children to participate in the Bal Vikaas program, have demonstrated their understanding of the importance of an holistic approach to education – particularly in these times when our children can easily fall prey to negative influences.

I also applaud the teachers who have given selflessly of their time – beyond normal school hours – to coach, work with, and train the students.

Above all, I congratulate and extend my and my husband’s best wishes to all of the students who will be participating in today’s CHOWTAL competition, and in the other competitions in the coming months. I encourage each of you to enjoy your school life; to participate in programmes such as Bal Vikaas; to read and discover more about your culture, and, in so doing, to cultivate a deep understanding of what our nation’s core values are; and, in time to come, to make wise and informed decisions about the direction in which you wish our nation to go. I encourage each of you to make your country proud.

As I close, please permit me to take this opportunity to also congratulate Pundit Dr. Rampersad Parasram, the sixth Dharmacharya of the Sanatan Dharma Maha Saba, to whom this year’s Bal Vikaas is dedicated, in celebration of his 80th birthday.

And so, I thank you for affording me this opportunity to have spoken with you and I wish the Sanatan Dharma Maha Saba and all participating schools a safe and successful Bal Vikaas 2024.

Thank you.

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The Office of the President of the Republic of T&T

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The Office of the President of the Republic of T&T
Today, Thursday May 22, 2025, Her Excellency Christine Carla Kangaloo, ORTT, President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, presided over the Swearing in Ceremony for new Government Ministers.Senator Darrell Allahar has been appointed Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister and Senator David Nakhid has been appointed Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs.Her Excellency congratulated both Senators on their appointments. ... See MoreSee Less

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The Office of the President of the Republic of T&T

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Winners of the DATT National Diabetes School Quiz Meet the First GentlemanAarya Devi Kimraj of Dayanand Memorial School, Saarah Dalchand of St. Joseph TML Primary School, and Veer O'Donoghue of San Fernando TML Primary School—1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners respectively in the 2025 National Primary School Diabetes Quiz accompanied by their mothers —had the honour of meeting His Excellency Kerwyn Garcia SC, First Gentleman of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and Patron of Diabetes Association of Trinidad and Tobago (DATT)The competition, hosted by the Diabetes Association of Trinidad and Tobago (DATT), engaged students from over 200 primary schools nationwide, aiming to raise awareness about diabetes and promote healthy lifestyles from an early age.During their visit, the students proudly displayed their trophies and shared insights they gained while preparing for the quiz, impressing His Excellency with their understanding of diabetes prevention and management. They also spoke about their interest in science and their future career goals.His Excellency encouraged the young scholars to remain dedicated to their education, stressing the importance of focus and sacrifice. They also enjoyed a brief, informative session about the role of the Presidency.Also pictured:👨‍⚕️ Dr. Andrew Dhanoo, President of DATT👩‍💼 Ms. Shoba Dookharan, First Vice President👩‍🎓 Ms. Alicia Ramdass, DATT Youth Coordinator📢 Ms. Aimee Sampath, DATT Marketing OfficerHis Excellency commended Dr. Dhanoo and the DATT for their exceptional efforts in public health education and reaffirmed his commitment as patron and advocate for diabetes awareness in Trinidad and Tobago.Photo Album : shorturl.at/9H#Datt##diabetesawarenessene#PrimarySchoolQuizl#trinidadandtobagoo#firstgentlemanttm#officeofthepresidenttdentt ... See MoreSee Less

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Alzheimer’s Association of Trinidad and Tobago Pays Courtesy Call to Her ExcellencyOn May 20, 2025, the newly elected Board of Directors (2025–2027) of the Alzheimer’s Association of Trinidad and Tobago paid a courtesy call on Her Excellency Christine Carla Kangaloo, ORTT, President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.The new board includes:🔹 Dr. Liane Conyette-Bowen – President🔹 Ms. Esuyemi Ogunbanke – Vice President🔹 Ms. Debra Lewis – Secretary🔹 Ms. Natasha V. Mark Clouden – Treasurer🔹 Mr. Robert Johnson-Attin – Public Relations OfficerAs Patron of the Association, Her Excellency received updates on current initiatives, discussed the support needed to further the Association’s mission. The discussion highlighted the urgent need for a more holistic national approach to Alzheimer's care, including improving education, reducing stigma, and strengthening family support systems.The Association continues its impactful work through active support groups and educational outreach, particularly via social media.Her Excellency congratulated the new Board and reaffirmed her commitment to supporting the Association’s efforts to raise national awareness and promote education on Alzheimer’s disease.#AlzheimersAwareness #AlzheimersAssociationTT #SupportAndEducation #patronage #volunteerism❤️ #officeofthepresidentt ... See MoreSee Less

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Courtesy Call by The Girl Guides Association of Trinidad and TobagoOn Tuesday, May 20, 2025, Her Excellency Christine Carla Kangaloo, ORTT, President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, welcomed a courtesy call from The Girl Guides Association of Trinidad and Tobago.Her Excellency met with the newly elected President, Ms. Tanya Western, Vice President, Ms. Stephanie Balchan as well as Chief Commissioner, Ms. Debra East, Deputy Chief Commissioner, Ms. Claudette Governor, and Property Chairman, Mr. Gregory C. Bourne.As patron of the Association, Her Excellency expressed a continued interest in their programmes and initiatives. During the meeting, the Executive shared their plans to deepen collaboration between the Association, NGOs, and Government, with a renewed emphasis on volunteerism and service.Her Excellency congratulated the new executive team and reaffirmed her commitment to supporting the work of the Association.#Ggatt #service #volunteerism❤️ #patronage #OFFICEOFTHEPRESIDENTClick for full photo album: shorturl.at/5Pc3m ... See MoreSee Less

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The Office of the President of the Republic of T&T

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The Office of the President of the Republic of T&T
The Office of the President welcomed another lively visit from the students of the Arima Girls' RC School this week. The young ladies had a wonderful time exploring and learning all about The President's House and grounds. Their smiles say it all! Check out the highlights in the photos below!👉 See the full album here: flic.kr/s/aHBqjCf1wf ... See MoreSee Less

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