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New Year Message from Her Excellency

Jan 1, 2024

New Year Message from Her Excellency

The arrival of a new year brings with it an opportunity to reflect and to reposition. We reflect on the triumphs and the pains of the past year. And, with the wisdom we have gained through the experience of our triumphs and our pains, we reposition ourselves to face the new year and to make of it the best that we can.

As we reflect on the year that was 2023, we see many triumphs – including the triumph of what would appear to be our full return to normal social and business life, after the dark period of the COVID-19 pandemic. We see triumphs in sports, in music and in academia. We see examples of triumph in the parents who have sacrificed everything for their children’s education, and in the smiles of the children who have excelled at their studies and made their parents justly proud. These are just examples of the many triumphs that our country has been privileged to experience in the past year.

But, as we look back on 2023, we also see pain. We see the pain of families who have lost loved ones to disease, to road accidents, and to crime. We see the pain of the untimely loss in 2023 of many of our country’s beloved artistes and writers. We see the pain of human trafficking and of the abuse of vulnerable citizens – many of them children.

Many of us, looking back at the mix of triumphs and of pains that our country has experienced in 2023, might be tempted to agree with Charles Dickens’ assessment of the period of the French Revolution in “A Tale of Two Cities”, and to say of 2023 that “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times; it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness; it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity; it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness; it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair”.

I believe that one of the challenges for us as we begin a new year, is to acknowledge the complex and multifaceted nature of the human journey, and to come to terms with the fact that, no matter who or what we are, we all experience both happiness and sorrow, success and failure. I believe that one of the challenges for us, is to embrace this essential duality of the human experience, and not to give up hope in, or because of, moments of pain or disaster. As difficult and as agonising as those moments can be, the challenge is for us to remember that even in the darkest of times, there is potential for positive change and growth. As the Bible says in Psalm 30 Verse 5: “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning”.

And so, as we reflect on the year that was 2023, and even as we accept that in life, we will always have and face challenges, let us also remember that we will also have and enjoy successes. Let us reposition our focus, away from only the pains that we all endure, and allow our focus to also embrace the examples of human excellence and potential around us — our innovative and enterprising young people, our talented athletes – and on our potential for greatness as a united, national community. Let us reflect on where we went wrong in 2023, and reposition ourselves at the start of the new year, to move forward in right directions. Let us all go triumphantly into the new year, with boundless faith in our destiny and in our ability to climb every mountain, to conquer every pain, and to fulfil our potential as a country.

My husband and I extend our very best wishes to all for 2024. And may God Bless Our Nation.

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The Office of the President of the Republic of T&T
#HappeningNow The third and final stop of the day has brought Their Excellencies to the San Rafael RC Primary School as they continue their educational outreach programme on the Presidency. ... See MoreSee Less

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#Happeningnow The Brazil RC Primary School is the second stop of the day for Their Excellencies Christine Carla Kangaloo ORTT, President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and Kerwyn Garcia, SC, First Gentleman, on today’s visit to schools in the St George East Education District. ... 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
#HappeningNow The Office of the President's School Visit programme continues today, Thursday 29th May, 2025, as Their Excellencies Christine Carla Kangaloo ORTT, President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and Kerwyn Garcia SC, First Gentleman, visit schools in the St. George East Education District. The first stop of the day is at the Talparo RC Primary School and the Mundo Nuevo RC Primary School which are both housed on the same compound. ... 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
On Tuesday 27 May, 2025, Her Excellency Christine Carla Kangaloo ORTT, President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, met with Senator the Honourable Wade Mark, President of the Senate at The President’s House.As outlined in Section 27 of the Constitution, the President of the Senate is entrusted with the responsibility of acting as President in the absence or illness of the Head of State. Her Excellency extended heartfelt congratulations to Senator Mark on his appointment and expressed her best wishes as he assumes this significant role. ... 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
Excitement filled the air during recent student tours of The President’s House and grounds! This week, the Office of the President was delighted to welcome students from:📚 St. Dominic’s R.C. School, Morvant📚 Poole River Presbyterian Primary School📚 Arima Girls’ R.C. SchoolDuring their visit, the students had the unique opportunity to witness parts of the Presentation of Credentials ceremonies taking place at The President’s House on that day. Some students were even fortunate enough to meet and interact with Her Excellency Christine Carla Kangaloo, ORTT, President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, following the conclusion of one of the ceremonies. 🇹🇹📸 Take a look at some memorable moments from their visit!Click the links below to view the full photo albums:🔗 St. Dominic’s R.C. School, Morvant: flic.kr/s/aHBqjCfT6y🔗 Poole River Presbyterian Primary School: flic.kr/s/aHBqjCg2Yo🔗 Arima Girls’ R.C. School: flic.kr/s/aHBqjCg4xw ... 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

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Email: otp.mail@otp.gov.tt

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