At the 29th annual Divali observance hosted at her Siparia constituency office, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar delivered a rousing address reaffirming her administration’s unshakable commitment to advancing the welfare of all Trinidad and Tobago residents, with a core mandate to confront systemic crime, entrenched corruption and longstanding community neglect, while guaranteeing no neighbourhood is sidelined in national development.
Held the previous night, the culturally rooted gathering drew a high-profile roster of attendees, including Venezuelan Ambassador Álvaro Enrique Sánchez Cordero, who leads the local diplomatic corps, Oilfields Workers’ Trade Union (OWTU) president Ancel Roget, and the vast majority of Cabinet members.
Persad-Bissessar anchored her policy pledges in the spiritual symbolism of Divali’s traditional deya flame, recounting a conversation earlier that day with a local pundit who corrected her initial framing of the flame as a representation of the heart, explaining it instead symbolizes the tongue, a tool that must be used to speak unapologetically in defense of justice. This exchange, she noted, reinforced her lifelong promise to never cease advocating for marginalized communities across the twin-island nation.
The prime minister outlined tangible, people-centric priorities for her administration, emphasizing that reliable potable water access, geographically equitable healthcare, well-maintained road networks, accessible quality education, and viable livelihood pathways form the non-negotiable foundation of secure, dignified family life. She stressed that the recently passed national budget and cross-ministry government initiatives must deliver immediate, measurable improvements, particularly for communities that have endured decades of underinvestment. “Delay in delivering these resources does not register as a bureaucratic footnote: it is felt acutely in a family’s home, erodes small business livelihoods, and dims a child’s future prospects,” she stated, adding that unaddressed crime poses an existential threat that can erase livelihoods, tear apart families, and strip neighbourhoods of their sense of safety. “Our coordinated action against crime, corruption and systemic neglect is a direct defense of the dignity and security of every person we are elected to serve,” she declared.
The festive occasion also served as a platform to honour outstanding local contributors whose work has strengthened community cohesion. Recognized recipients included youth sports mentors Amrita Ramtahal, a celebrated local cricketer, and Darrel Garcia, a longstanding grassroots football administrator, both lauded for instilling discipline and ambition in young residents. Carmina Hosein was celebrated for decades of craftsmanship, sewing instruction, and unremunerated community service, while Vijai Bridglal received accolades for his decades of contributions to public service, local transportation infrastructure, and neighbourhood organizing. Denesh Tarsoo was honoured for his innovative work supporting small-scale local agriculture, and top-performing students Aurea Mahabir, Devina Dodal, Kadir Chung and Kavir Newton were recognized for their exceptional academic achievements. “These accomplishments are a testament to what every community can achieve when its members receive the support and opportunities they deserve, and our government is committed to extending that same chance to every child across this country, no matter which neighbourhood they grow up in,” Persad-Bissessar remarked.
In a deeply personal segment of her address, the prime minister reflected on her working-class childhood in the region, recalling days spent alongside her grandmother, affectionately known to locals as Aagie, selling bodi and fresh produce at the Penal Market, directly across the road from the event venue. “In the chaos and energy of that busy market, I could never have imagined that decades later I would stand on this very stretch of road as Prime Minister, celebrating Divali with the children and grandchildren of the vendors and farmers who helped raise me,” she shared. She noted that those earlier generations of local residents earned very modest incomes, but poured every spare resource into building informal community schools – many of which were affectionately referred to as “cow sheds” due to their humble origins – and places of worship, all to secure a better future for their children. “I am one of the beneficiaries of that collective sacrifice, and my debt to the people who built this community goes far beyond remembrance. It is a debt of service, a promise to extend the same opportunities they fought for to every subsequent generation,” she said, highlighting that Trinidad and Tobago’s greatest national strength lies in its diverse multi-ancestral heritage and unifying shared national identity.
Persad-Bissessar extended formal gratitude to the Siparia Women’s Association, local religious leaders, event sponsors, donors, teachers, students, and volunteers who sustain not only the annual Divali celebrations, but also year-round community outreach initiatives including food hamper distributions, holiday toy drives, free public health clinics, and pro bono legal support sessions. She also thanked the diplomatic delegation that traveled from the capital Port of Spain to attend related Divali events in Couva and Siparia.
The prime minister also paid a public tribute to her husband, Dr Gregory Bissessar, who was unable to attend the event due to lingering mobility challenges stemming from injuries he sustained in a motor vehicle accident during last year’s general election campaign. “His sharp mind and unbreakable spirit remain as strong as ever. Through every challenge and pressure of public office, he has been my steady rock and guiding light,” she said, noting that his courage, patience, and unwavering support had been indispensable to her decades-long political career.
Closing her address, Persad-Bissessar reflected on her 31 consecutive years serving as the Member of Parliament for Siparia, thanking her constituents for standing with her through both landmark political victories and difficult electoral defeats. She recalled the outpouring of support that greeted her return to the office of Prime Minister last year, after a decade spent in the opposition, when local residents lit traditional deyas across the constituency to welcome her home. “Tonight, I renew my solemn pledge to you: you will have my full service, my full strength, and my whole heart for the rest of my days. I have always said half of me belongs to you, and today I give the other half entirely to you as well,” she stated, vowing to honour the public’s trust through accountable, transparent governance, and to ensure future generations of Trinidad and Tobago residents have access to even greater opportunities than their parents and grandparents enjoyed.
I’LL KEEP FIGHTING FOR YOU
