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Message on Spiritual Baptist Liberation Shouter Day 2025

Mar 30, 2025

Message on Spiritual Baptist Liberation Shouter Day 2025

Fellow citizens,

Resilience is the ability to adapt successfully in the face of adversity. It is more¬—much more—than just the ability to endure. A resilient people know that they will rise above every challenge that life presents. They know that they have the wherewithal to remain steadfast and to persist, even when the road ahead seems impossible. A resilient people never lose sight of their goals and remain committed to achieving a brighter, more hopeful future.

This spirit of resilience is exactly what the Spiritual Baptist faithful embodied, when on November 16, 1917, the Shouter Prohibition Ordinance of 1917 came into being, denying them the freedom to worship, congregate and practise their beliefs. This oppressive law, along with the public persecution they faced, was designed to undermine the legitimacy of their faith and reinforce the colonial disdain for African customs and traditions.

Fortunately for all of us, Spiritual Baptists did not yield to colonial pressure. They were resilient. They held fast to their faith, meeting secretly and enduring all manner of harassment and humiliation. After years of struggle and agitation, their efforts bore fruit in 1951 – as resilience often does – when the Shouter Prohibition Ordinance was finally repealed. That victory was not the end of their fight; rather, it only fuelled their continued pursuit of religious freedom, and in 1996, Spiritual Baptist Liberation Shouter Day was declared.

The struggle of the Spiritual Baptist community for recognition, justice, dignity and freedom is, at one and the same time, a source of justifiable national pride as it is of tremendous inspiration. The story of Spiritual Baptists is the story of the true power of resilience, perseverance and commitment to a common cause. As a nation, we would do well to emulate and model their example. As our country faces our own struggles and challenges, the model of the Spiritual Baptists movement is available to us to draw from the wells of our inner strength and to stare down, as they did, the perils and the dangers that confront us. Much like the Spiritual Baptists, our success as a nation hinges on our recognising and accepting that resilience is not a solitary endeavour—it is the collective effort of a people standing together, supporting one another and working in harmony toward a brighter, more prosperous future.

The challenges we face today may not be the same as those faced by the Spiritual Baptists, but their example of resilience remains relevant, perhaps more now than ever before. As we observe Spiritual Baptist Liberation Shouter Day this year, let us honour the Spiritual Baptist faith by embracing and embodying their example of resilience. Let us commit to standing together and surmounting every obstacle in our path as we work towards building a country of which we can all be proud and glad.

I extend to the Spiritual Baptist community and all citizens of our nation best wishes for a safe, happy and joyous celebration of Spiritual Baptist Liberation Shouter Day.

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6 days ago

The Office of the President of the Republic of T&T
Today, Thursday October 9, 2025, Ms. Shail Pooransingh-Jamadar took the Oath of Office and received the Instrument of Appointment as a Member of the Procurement Board, before Her Excellency Christine Carla Kangaloo ORTT, President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. Ms. Pooransingh-Jamadar is an Associate Attorney-at-Law, specialising in Conveyancing, at Hobsons Attorneys-at-Law and Notaries Public. A graduate of York University, the University of Leeds, and the Hugh Wooding Law School, she has also lectured at the Hugh Wooding Law School and contributed to regional legal development, including the Criminal Bench Book for Barbados, Belize, and Guyana.Her Excellency congratulated Ms. Pooransingh-Jamadar and extended best wishes to her in her service to country. ... See MoreSee Less

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

7 days ago

The Office of the President of the Republic of T&T
On Saturday, October 4, 2025, Her Excellency Christine Carla Kangaloo, ORTT, President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, delivered the Feature Address at the Ceremony for the Presentation of Graduates of the Hugh Wooding Law School.Reflecting on her own graduation 40 years ago and drawing inspiration from tennis great Roger Federer, Her Excellency encouraged graduates to embrace the lessons that “Effortless is a myth; Perfection is impossible; and Life is bigger than the courtroom.”💬For full speech: tinyurl.com/5n8y2ssw📸For more photos: flic.kr/s/aHBqjCwPFR#ICYMI #OfficeofthePresidentTT Hugh Wooding Law School ... See MoreSee Less

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

7 days ago

The Office of the President of the Republic of T&T
Her Excellency Meets Presentation College, Chaguanas Robotics TeamOn Tuesday 7th October, 2025, Her Excellency Christine Carla Kangaloo ORTT, President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago received members of the Presentation College, Chaguanas Robotics Team at The President’s House.The talented young men, who recently secured third place in a global robotics competition in Greece, shared with Her Excellency their passion for robotics and their vision of seeing robotics recognised as a sport. They also spoke about their excitement in representing Trinidad and Tobago at the FIRST Global Robotics Challenge in Panama later this month.Accompanied by their Principal, Dr. René Wihby, and IT Teacher Ms. Tricia Singh, the students treated Her Excellency to a hands-on demonstration of their robot during which she was able to “shake hands” with it!Her Excellency expressed her admiration for their creativity, teamwork and dedication, and wished them every success as they prepare to compete on the international stage once again.More photos available at: flic.kr/s/aHBqjCwNQH ... See MoreSee Less

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

1 week ago

The Office of the President of the Republic of T&T
Her Excellency Christine Carla Kangaloo ORTT, President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago today received the Letters of Credence of Ms. Cécile Tassin, Ambassador-designate of the European Union.Accompanying the incoming Ambassador were Mrs. Evelina Melbarzde, Deputy Head of Mission at the Delegation of the European Union to Trinidad and Tobago, and Mr. Felipe Armijo, Programme Officer.Her Excellency welcomed Ms. Tassin to Trinidad and Tobago and wished her every success in her new role. On hand to witness the Guard of Honour with mounted escort were students of St. Madeleine Secondary School, who were on a tour of The President’s House this morning. ... 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 is at Naparima College.

1 week ago

The Office of the President of the Republic of T&T
The fourth and final stop of the day was at Naparima College where Their Excellencies Christine Carla Kangaloo ORTT, President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and Kerwyn Garcia SC, First Gentleman engaged with staff and students. Today's school visits bring the total number of schools visited to a total of 44 since the launch of the School Visits Programme in January 20#schoolvisitsi#officeofthepresidenttte#trinidadandtobagoobago ... See MoreSee Less

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President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
Office of the President
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St Ann’s
The Republic of Trinidad and Tobago

Telephone: (868) 225-4687
Email: otp.mail@otp.gov.tt

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