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Message on African Emancipation Day 2025

Aug 1, 2025

Message on African Emancipation Day 2025

African Emancipation Day provides an opportunity for reflection, not only on the history of African enslavement, but also on the legacies of that period that live on in our lives today.

The enslavement of African people remains one of humanity’s gravest and most shameful injustices. For over four centuries, millions of men, women and children were forcibly taken from their homes, stripped of their identities, and transported, in the vilest of conditions, into lives of servitude and oppression. This system was brutal and dehumanising. There can be no greater testament to the power of the human spirit that, even in chains, the enslaved never fully surrendered.

Through various acts of resistance and outright revolt, enslaved Africans not only survived their horrific ordeal, but asserted their dignity and humanity. Their courage, along with mounting pressure from abolitionists and shifting economic realities, culminated in the passage of the Slavery Abolition Act in 1833, ushering in the dismantling of slave systems in the West Indies. But, while the structural chains of slavery were broken, the social, political and economic repercussions of that heinous institution remain with us to this day and continue to affect the descendants of enslaved people and the continent from which they were taken.

Among some the more pressing responses to these horrendous repercussions has been the call for reparatory justice. This year, the Emancipation Support Committee has chosen “Shaping Sustainable Futures Through Reparatory Justice” as the theme of its celebrations. It is a timely and a welcome theme. Reparatory justice acknowledges the long-term effects of slavery and colonialism, and seeks appropriate redress. It is not limited to financial compensation, but includes institutional reform, investment in education and development, cultural and historical restoration and public recognition of past injustices. It is a holistic framework aimed at repairing historical harm and addressing its consequences.

While the primary responsibility for addressing reparatory justice might be said to fall on the governments of former colonial powers and other societal institutions, we, too, are called, as individuals, to reflect more deeply on the enduring legacies of slavery and colonialism. We are challenged to confront the injustices and inequalities that persist in our society and to examine on our own roles in either perpetuating or challenging these wrongs. When we recognize that we are still grappling with the repercussions of the class and other divisions that separated us during centuries of slavery; when we admit that we sometimes walk around with the weight of a diminished view of our capacity to cut some of the ties that still hold us to our former colonial masters – we are reminded that the work of emancipation is far from complete.

As we mark African Emancipation Day 2025, let our remembrance of the struggles and sacrifices of the enslaved be matched by a steadfast commitment to building the future they envisioned. Let us reaffirm our resolve to upholding and protecting the dignity, freedom and humanity for which they fought. Let us reject the attitudes and behaviours which undermine their hard-won freedoms and which stand in opposition to all they endured to overcome.

Let us move forward fully committed to building a society in which the promise of full emancipation is fully realised.

I extend to the entire national community my warmest wishes for a safe, meaningful and reflective African Emancipation Day 2025. 

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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
Message from Her Excellency Christine Carla Kangaloo ORTT, President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago on Republic Day 2025Fellow citizens, For many of us, Republicanism is a difficult concept to grasp. Many of us grapple with the question of why it was necessary, and how is it different from Independence. Our history books and political texts tell us that Republicanism was an important step in our ongoing journey of self-determination, and that by replacing the British monarch and her representative with a Head of State chosen from among our own citizens, we shed the last vestiges of colonial rule and assumed full ownership of our destiny. Yet even with these explanations, the real meaning of Republicanism continues to elude many of us. Apart from the symbolic change in our Head of State, many struggle to understand what difference it makes to who we are as a country. Perhaps some light can be shed on this question if we were to regard Independence as the foundation of our country’s freedom, and Republicanism as the edifice which we choose to build upon that foundation. Looked at in this way, we might view Republicanism as the answer to the question “What are we doing with our freedom?”. For the 49 years that have passed since 1976, ours has been the responsibility to answer that question. This past week, we have had wonderful and inspirational answers to that question in the area of sport. We have delighted in the accomplishments of Keshorn Walcott and Jereem Richards. And we have all been gripped by the elation of a fifth CPL victory by our Trinbago Knight Riders. Today, beyond the boundaries of sport, we will also gather, as we do each year, in solemn recognition of citizens who have gone above and beyond the call of duty and upon whom we will bestow national awards.This Republic Day, Trinidad and Tobago has much to be proud of as we answer the question posed by our Republicanism - “What are we doing with our freedom?”. We can answer truthfully that since 1976, we have stared down countless challenges and, much like David standing before Goliath, we have risen to meet them with courage and determination. We can say, with justifiable pride, that though small in size and population, we have shown ourselves to be a nation abounding in vision, spirit, resilience and faith. One of the consequences of Republicanism is that there is no escape from having always to answer the question “What are we doing with our freedom?”. There can be no ‘final answer’ to that question. It will arise for answering, constantly. My hope and my prayer are that we will continue to place ourselves, by our words and by our actions, in a position always to answer that question with pride.Whenever Republic Day comes around, may we always be in the position of proud Trinbagonians – proud, not just of our accomplishments, but of the strength of our spirit, the breadth of our vision for our society, and the audacity of our hope for our future. Let us always be able to say that we are proud of the way we come together in times of crisis. Let us always be proud of the way we reach out to help our neighbours when they are in need. Let us always be proud of how we both celebrate our diversity and set aside our differences when it matters most. And let the edifice that we choose to build upon the foundation of our Independence, be a structure in which there is room for all, regardless of class, colour, creed or race. As we approach the milestone of 50 years of being a Republic, may we do, with our freedom, all that we envisaged at our Independence, and more. I wish the citizens of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago a blessed, happy and productive Republic Day. #RepublicDay2025#ProudlyTrinbagonian#UnityInDiversity#officeofthepresidentt ... See MoreSee Less

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The Office of the President of the Republic of T&T The Office of the President of the Republic of T&T updated their cover photo.

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The Office of the President of the Republic of T&T The Office of the President of the Republic of T&T is at President's House, Trinidad and Tobago.

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🇹🇹 With just one day to go before we celebrate Republic Day and the National Awards 2025, we proudly highlight the awardees of 2024 — citizens whose exceptional service has strengthened our nation.✨ Their contributions in Youth Development, Tourism, Sport, Social Work, Science, Education, Culture, the Arts, and many other spheres continue to uplift and inspire Trinidad and Tobago.🔗 See link to full Database of National Awardees: share.google/vYiVhp34aFr72qBZ5#NationalAwards #RepublicDay #trinidadandtobago #officeofthepresidenttt ... See MoreSee Less

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🇹🇹🏅Last, but certainly not least, we shine the spotlight on the nation’s highest award – The Order of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago (ORTT)!The ORTT may be awarded to any person, citizen or non-citizen, who has rendered distinguished and outstanding service to Trinidad and Tobago. As with all awards, it may be awarded posthumously, though a deceased recipient does not become a member of the Distinguished Society of Trinidad and Tobago. This prestigious award shall be awarded only in Gold.✨ Did you know?🔴The ORTT replaced the Trinity Cross as the country’s highest honour in 2008.🔴The highest national award is automatically conferred to the holder of the nation's highest office (The President) if not already awarded – a precedent set with Sir Solomon Hochoy, Governor General (1962–1972) who was awarded the Trinity Cross in 1969, the year the National Awards began.🔴Former President Anthony Thomas Aquinas Carmona was the first President to receive the ORTT, ex officio, in 2013. #NationalAwards2025 #RepublicDay #OfficeOfThePresident #TrinidadAndTobago ... See MoreSee Less

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