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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their efforts bore fruit in 1951 – as resilience often does – when the Shouter Prohibition Ordinance was finally repealed.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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The Office of the President of the Republic of T&T

2 days ago

The Office of the President of the Republic of T&T
On Wednesday 18th June 2025, Her Excellency Christine Carla Kangaloo ORTT, President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, attended the Manzanilla/Nariva Primary School Graduation Ceremony.At the ceremony, which was fittingly themed, "Reaching New Heights," Her Excellency delivered the feature address, presented special prizes, and took time to engage with the graduating class of 24 students as they celebrated the end of one chapter and prepared to begin the next. In her address, Her Excellency reminded the students of the power of choices, especially the importance of choosing their friends wisely, "Be very, very careful about the friends you choose. Make sure they are people who will help you to keep reaching new heights." She encouraged them to speak openly with their parents and teachers, seek guidance when needed, and to never be afraid to ask for help when needed.As the students prepare for the next stage of their journey, Her Excellency left them with a powerful reminder that they are not alone, and that with hard work, good choices, and the support of those who care for them, they will continue to reach new heights in life.👏 Congratulations once again to the Graduating Class of 2025 at Manzanilla/Nariva Primary School.📖 Full speech available at:🔗 tinyurl.com/yy359efk📸 Check out more photos from the event:🔗 flic.kr/s/aHBqjCiZcH ... See MoreSee Less

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

3 days ago

The Office of the President of the Republic of T&T
Congratulations to this week’s #OTPTriviaTuesday winner... @jihad.howe!🎉🏆💡Did you know? These Letters are presented to our Head of State by incoming Ambassadors and High Commissioners, during a Presentation of Credentials ceremony, usually held at The President's House . ✉️🌎Here’s a look at some Letters of Credence presented to Her Excellency Christine Carla Kangaloo, ORTT, in 2025. ... See MoreSee Less

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

4 days ago

The Office of the President of the Republic of T&T
On Tuesday, 24 June 2025, the Office of the President welcomed students of Windermere Private School for a memorable and educational tour of The President's House and grounds. Their visit, which coincided with the Presentation of Credentials ceremony for the Ambassador of the Republic of Ireland, allowed the young people the opportunity to witness the guard of honour with mounted escort. 🇮🇪🎖️During their tour, the students explored several important rooms within the House, including the Credentials Room and the Ballroom, learning about the significance and role of those rooms in national events and the President’s official duties. A special moment came when one brave and talented young lady volunteered to show off her steelpan skills! 🎶🇹🇹 📸 View more moments from this special visit:👉 flic.kr/s/aHBqjCjaLL ... See MoreSee Less

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

4 days ago

The Office of the President of the Republic of T&T
Ms. Geraldine Byrne Nason, Ambassador-designate of Ireland to the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago with residence in Washington D.C., United States of America, presented her credentials to Her Excellency Christine Carla Kangaloo ORTT, President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, today, June 24, 2025 at The President's House. Formal diplomatic relations between Trinidad and Tobago and Ireland were established in 2000. 2025 therefore marks the 25th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations with Ambassador Geraldine Byrne Nason being appointed the first Irish Ambassador accredited to Trinidad and Tobago.Her Excellency Nason was accompanied by Ms. Sharon Lennon, Head of the Republic of Ireland’s Office for the Caribbean and Ms. Aoife Erraught Foreign Policy CounsellorHer Excellency welcomed the Ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago and wished her every success in her new post. ... See MoreSee Less

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

5 days ago

The Office of the President of the Republic of T&T
Welcome to week 4 of #OTPTriviaTuesday! 💡🎉Want a chance to be a winner? 🏆 Keep an eye out for our trivia questions every Tuesday at 9 AM on Instagram @officeofthepresidenttt 📲🎁 In case you forgot, here’s a look at some of the exciting prizes up for grabs!#OTPTriviaTuesday #officeofthepresidentt #trinidadandtobago ... See MoreSee Less

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