THE
TRINBAGONIAN

Issue.3

The 1960s was a time in which many Caribbean nations achieved their independence. Attempts at regional integration had failed with the dismantling of the West Indian Federation and thus individual independence for countries throughout the region was sought.

    Trinidad and Tobago received its independence from Britain under the leadership of Dr. Eric Williams and the Peoples National Movement on August 31st of 1962. A day signaling the end of an oppressive era while ushering in the birth of a new nation. It would be considered safe to think that independence from Britain was not pursued for the main reason of being trendy or for the purpose of "fitting in" with most of the world but rather for the people of Trinidad and Tobago to discover our own identity, understand our own history, formulate our own culture and be proud in our own national individuality.

    It has been forty eight years since the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago came into existence and the question needs to be asked, Is Trinidad and Tobago really Independent? Could Trinidad and Tobago sustain itself?

    Economically, T&T is not only dependent on foreign nations for its manufactured goods but for basic necessities like food. According to one government minister the food import bill of T&T is three billion dollars. It is clear that T&T's population cannot be sustained without imported food. If a nation cannot sustain its population's most basic necessity, then the harsh reality is that the nation is not independent but rather dependant. An independent nation must be able to stand on its own two feet when necessary, free from any restrictions which would be imposed when one nation is dependant upon another.

    Some may senselessly argue that by varying the countries from whom we import would limit our dependency on a sole foreign nation, this could only be considered a temporary solution if considered at all. No leader who truly believes in Trinidad and Tobago as an independent nation would support such a policy. Citizens of Trinidad and Tobago must all band together and proclaim in the words of Eric Williams "Massa Day Done." Government must firstly be prepared to invest handsomely in local industries and in turn citizens must be willing to purchase local goods and give such goods first preference to any other. Local manufacturers should therefore ensure that they produce high quality goods that rival that of any other nation in the world.

    Additionally, the government should do everything in its power to arouse much greater interest in public affairs. It is the duty of every individual to contribute in some way to the building of this GREAT nation. Although we are small, as an independent state Trinidad and Tobago is to be considered as an equal to all the other states of the world. The following is a call made by Prime Minister Eric Williams on August 31^st, 1962, the first day of National Independence:

"You (Trinbagonians) are on your own in a big world, in which you are one of many nations, some small, some medium size, some large. You are nobody's boss and nobody is your boss…What use would you make of your independence? Whatever the challenge that faces you, from whatever quarter, place always first the national interest and the national cause. The strength of the nation depends on the strength of its citizens. Our National Anthem invokes God's Blessings on our Nation, in response to those thousands of citizens of all faiths who demanded God's protection on our Constitution. Let us then as a Nation so conduct ourselves as to be able always to say in those noblest and inspiring words of St. Paul, By the Grace of God we as a people are what we are, and his Grace in us hath not been void."