Fellow citizens,

On 1st August 1976, Trinidad and Tobago became a republic – a significant and momentous milestone on our journey of self-determinism. While Independence had granted us full control over our internal affairs, the British sovereign remained our Head of State, with a Governor General as her representative. Achieving Republican status was the next significant step of our journey of self-actualization, with our republican constitution establishing the office of President and transferring all allegiances and power from a distant monarch to the people of Trinidad and Tobago.

A republic, by definition, is a nation-state in which supreme power resides with the people and their elected representatives. The term itself comes from the Latin phrase “res publica,” meaning “public affair.” Embracing republican status requires us to accept that the wellbeing of the republic is indeed a public affair, in other words, a shared responsibility—the responsibility of every citizen of Trinidad and Tobago. Each of us can, and must, actively contribute to the well-being of our republic. Each of us can, and must, engage in the process of nation-building. Each of us can, and must, see ourselves as individual and indispensable architects of our country’s collective future.

Since coming into the republican office of President, I have found that a significant challenge has been getting citizens to step up when called upon to share their talents in this public affair of building our nation’s future, by giving of themselves in public service. Some have doubted their abilities, while others hesitated to commit the time and energy necessary to fulfil their duties as citizens, and as architects of our country’s future.

Citizens of Trinidad and Tobago, our vision of a safe, responsible, and productive nation can only materialise when we embrace our individual and shared responsibilities. Change will not happen on its own, nor can it happen overnight. Instead it is brought about by deliberate, concerted action and activism, personal as well as collective. It is brought about by all of us participating fully in this public affair of republicanism.

This Republic Day, I call on all citizens to discharge our civic duties with pride and vigilance—by participating in the political process, attending public consultations, staying informed about current issues, voicing concerns to our elected representatives, and advocating for causes that resonate with us. Let us take our roles seriously when called upon to serve and act as responsible members of the national community. Let us not content ourselves with sitting on the sidelines or ensconcing ourselves in the position of armchair critics. Rather, let us all answer to the Biblical injunction to “Get up; pick up our mats; and walk”.

Nation-building is often arduous work but Trinbagonians are blessed with abundant stores of confidence, courage, resilience, and strength. Let us therefore be more than mere observers of our nation’s development. Rather, this Republic Day, let us re-commit to stepping out of our comfort zones and into a fuller participation in this “public affair” that is republicanism. Let us put down our loudspeakers and instead, roll up our sleeves and work, including by answering the call to public service, to make our hopes and vision for the future, an achievable reality. 48 years is but a short period of our history, and while we have not yet achieved our full potential, I am confident that we possess the wherewithal to do so. Let us all do so by playing a more active role in the “public affair” that is republicanism.

I wish the citizens of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago a blessed, happy and productive Republic Day.