Republic Day marks the transference of power from the British crown to the people of Trinidad and Tobago. Representation belongs to the people of Trinidad and Tobago; power belongs to the people. Significantly, republicanism replaced the Governor’s office with the office of the President, who in fact, appoints members of the Integrity Commission.
Any reflection of Trinidad and Tobago is a reflection of the people. The weight of self-rule is most acutely felt by the citizens. It is not enough, however, to simply transfer power or to symbolically sever colonial ties. Severance means creating a new nation that constructs our own standards by which we measure ourselves. It’s worthwhile to ask: How do we measure ourselves? What standards do we use?
What makes you proud to be a Trinidadian? What does being a Trinidadian mean to you?
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