Diamond Vale, Diego Martin Meeting

24th August 2009

Member of Parliament for POS North/ St. Ann's West; Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs: Hon. Gary Hunt

The Honourable Patrick Manning, Prime Minister of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and Political Leader of this great Institution called The People’s National Movement.

Sen. The Honourable Conrad Enill, Minister of Energy and Energy Indusries and Party Chairman.

Other Party Officials

Sen. The Hon. Hazel Manning – Minister of Local Government.

My Colleague The Hon. Dr. Amery Browne - Minister of Social Development and Member of Parliament for Diego Martin Central.

Cabinet and Parliamentary Colleagues

Our Youth Speaker

Faithful members of the PNM

My brothers and sisters, I would like to express my gratitude to the leadership of this great political party the PNM for the opportunity and privilege to address you tonight, No.7, in a series of Political Education Lectures spanning the length and breath of our beloved country. Tonight we are in the College of Diego Martin, hometown of former Miss Universe Wendy Fitzwilliam and Soca Warriors Shaka Hislop, Carlos Edwards and the man who kept our World Cup aspirations alive Mr. Cornell Glenn.

I stand before you tonight a product of 53 years of unswerving commitment by the PNM to the development of all the people of Trinidad and Tobago.  My very presence on this political platform is testament that the message given to all our people by our founding fathers of this solid and steady institution has borne fruit.

I believe in the PNM because I believe in me.

It was on a Sunday, the 15^th day in the month of January in the year 1956. A packed hall of enthusiastic people form all walks of life and varied backgrounds gathered in the Good Samaritan Friendly Society Hall in Duke St. P.O.S. filled with the conviction that we as a people have a right to self determination and self government to become an independent Nation. It was our founding fathers belief that our destiny as a people will not be written for us, but by us. The People’s Charter, adopted by the inaugural conference of the movement on that day captured that hope. It was a statement of fundamental principles that to this day holds true in the PNM.

In 1970 the People’s Charter of 1956 was revised, as a society we were evolving and so too was the rest of the world. In November of that year at a Special Party Convention, The Chaguramas Declaration – Perspectives For The New Society was adopted. The focus of which was taking local control of the National Economy and we saw the emergence of the People’s Sector. The aim was to encourage our people to participate in the economy, which would lead to social justice and economic democracy. The PNM began to lay the conditions, especially for youth to create opportunities through self-employment instead of waiting for opportunities. In other words the PNM was saying to our people – “Just do it.” There are two people of that era that I know who answered to that call – one with only a primary school education, she learned to sew and later became a seamstress, that my dear friends is my beloved mother the other is my farther who laboured in a garage to later become an auto-mechanic. Today their first born stands on a PNM platform as a Member of Parliament and a Minister of Government, forged from the opportunities provided to this great Nation by the PNM. I know they look upon me with great pride….

I believe in the PNM because I believe in me.

In 1987 another vision was adopted by the PNM – PNM’s Perspectives in the world of the 80’s and beyond. Articulated by a new Political Leader, The Honourable Patrick Agustus Mervin Manning. The society needed to be provided once more with the spiritual and moral guidance so necessary for its development. We returned to the basics with a vision for the future that was confident in the capacity of the people to achieve excellence and greatness.  

The year is 2000. A new world order is emerging. Globally we are more connected than ever before, the way we interact with each other is influenced heavily by technology. Globalisation and its attendant changes are casting up opportunities for new development initiatives as never before. There is an opportunity to harness the creative energies of our people and to find optimum positions in these evolving scenarios. An opportunity to say to our selves and the world we are as good as or better.

Under the masterful guidance of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago the Hon. Patrick Agustus Mervin Manning - Vision 2020 was born. Keeping true to the ethos of the PNM laid by our founding fathers since 1956 in The People’s Charter. Vision 2020 when you research it, finds it’s foundation from the very core of the PNM. It is pellucid that Vision 2020 rose out of the pages of four fundamental vision documents of the party, The Peoples Charter of 1956, The Chaguramas Declaration of 1970, PNM’s Perspectives in the world of the 80’s and beyond and article 2 of the Party’s Constitution. Much of what you see coming to pass today was contemplated since the inception of the PNM. Vision 2020 is a natural evolution because it is built into the DNA of the party. This is the genius of the PNM.

I believe in the PNM because I believe in me.

Many previous lecturers have elaborated on various aspects of Vision 2020. But I want to ask you tonight when you close your eyes and imagine a Trinidad and Tobago with Vision 2020 achieved. What do you see? Let me help you. I see a people inspired by hope, working with love for one another, nurturing the weak, caring for the sick, enlightening our young for they are the inheritors of our hard work, able to experience the joys that the world has to offer, peaceful, confident, focused, exchanging bright smiles and gestures of encouragement and inspiration with each other. Holding true to the values of self-reliance, respect, tolerance, equity and integrity. There are opportunities for all and we are inspired always to do our best at all times. Always being loyal to God, our family and our country. Filled with faith, trust and confidence. Chasing away doubt, worry and fear. I ask you, do you like it? I want simply to tell you that I love it. A politics based on love and hope for a brighter future intended for you my sister seated in the college, for you my brother and for you and you. It is for you that we work relentlessly to make the vision a reality.

I believe in the PNM because I believe in me.

The PNM has always challenged the youth of our nation. On August 30th 1962, on the eve of the country’s first Independence Day, the brilliant and distinguished founding father of the PNM, Dr. Eric Eustace Williams, spoke directly to the youth of the nation in a stirring address. He told the young audience:

“I have given to the nation as its watchwords Discipline, Production and Tolerance. They apply as much to you as to your parents… You the children, yours is the great responsibility to educate your parents and teach them to live in harmony. The difference today is not race or color of skin, but merit only. I call upon all of you young people to make our nation one in which ‘every creed and race find an equal place.”

It is upon these noble principles and guided by Vision 2020 that the Government has consistently and relentlessly promoted programmes to develop the youth of the nation. The history of the PNM is the history of the social and human development of Trinidad and Tobago. No other government in this part of the world has done as much for its people, especially the youth. And today, this proud tradition continues. Your country, Trinidad and Tobago is among a very select group of nations that have developed and implemented a comprehensive national youth policy. The vision of the youth policy is to develop “empowered young people who are able to make informed choices so that they can lead meaningful enjoyable lives and contribute to the sustainable development of Trinidad and Tobago.”

Today we can boast of over 50 significant programmes that address the youth and their varied needs, touching and guiding their paths in a direction that leads to self-reliance and self-confidence.

A few weeks ago I had the pleasure to met a young man in the lobby of the Ministry. His name was Shanon, he looked to be about 19 years of age. Well dressed, he possessed a winning smile and he was the embodiment of confidence. He had a job at the Ministry in the IT department, he shared with me that he has a dream to one day own a Computer Business. He was happy with his prospects for the future. I told him to hold on to his dream and pursue it until it becomes a reality. We exchanged a friendly handshake and we went on our way.  A few days later I was chatting with Shanon’s supervisor and he took the opportunity to reveal Shanon’s success story. He told me that Shanon grew up in a single parent home in north Trinidad in what, some may consider to be, a challenged community. At a tender age he was exposed to crime, thuggery and other negative social behavior. He was veering down the wrong path with a promise of ill faith and death. It was a Police officer that approached Shanon and a friend about the Youth Development and Apprentiship Centre. This is where Shanon graduated with a diploma in computer repairs. Shanon, my friends made a complete turnaround in his life. A living example of the results of our youth programmes. This is the vision. This is what vision 2020 is about.

I believe in the PNM because I believe in me. 

Very recently, over 18,000 young boys and girls from all parts of Trinidad and Tobago were engaged in numerous vacation sport camps arranged by the Sport Company of Trinidad and Tobago. Have you heard of it? Another innovation of the government. These multi-disciplinary sports camps are yet another example of the government’s commitment to youth development through sport.

(Yesterday at 10:00am T&T time,) our flag was raised and our anthem was played in a far off land – Berlin Gremany!! Celebrating the success of our relay team Richard Thompson, Darryl Browne, Emmanuel Callender and Mark Burns! Silver in the 4 x 100 relay. Our boys gave Jamaica a run for their money! London 2012 we are coming and we coming strong! Josanne Lucas bronze medal! Rennie Quow, bronze medal! For the first time in our history a women’s relay team in the final. Jehue Gordon! At seventeen, the youngest in history, to make a final at the world championships. This success ladies and gentlemen is not by accident, but by design, your PNM Government has pursued a Sport policy established in 2002 that seeks to encourage – total participation in sport, quality training and elite development. It is in the pursuit of this policy that has resulted in our success. I assure you there is more success to come. All the athletes that achieved in Berlin have been the beneficiaries of Government’s Elite Athlete Assistance funding. To date we have invested over $20M directly in our elite athletes to aid in their development. This is a feature of PNM policy that is unique in this hemisphere. Jehue Gordon my friends, was nurtured right here in T & T. He is a product of Government’s bilateral agreement with Cuba for coaches.  My friends, this is what Vision 2020 seeks to achieve under the development pillar, Nurturing a caring Society! The Vision is unfolding before us!!! 

I believe in the PNM because I believe in me.

My friends, it is written in the Bible that by its fruits, you shall know the tree. For if the tree is rotten, then it can only produce bad fruit. But if it is good, then it will bear good fruit. The young people of our nation have eaten good fruit from the tree of the PNM and, therefore, they will continue to flourish and prevail against any challenges. I am particularly proud of our accomplishments in sport. I am proud of our athletes. The policy prescriptions pursued by the PNM are producing results! Just this weekend alone our National Junior Golf team has returned with a victory at the Stephen Ames Cup in Florida, a first for T & T, Our Junior Chess team returned from the CAC junior chess tournament with gold, silver and bronze, another first for T & T. Our Squash team is now overall Caribbean Champions, another first for T & T. Our U20 football team is off to the World Cup, another first for T & T! There are so many successes all around us, but too great in number to mention tonight. Any way you cut it my brothers and sisters, we are doing better and better in our achievements in sport. The Government is satisfied that the investment we are making in our youth is brining returns to our country.

I believe in the PNM because I believe in me.

My many years as a student of the martial arts has taught me the virtues of self-discipline, determination and self-control and I will continue to conduct the affairs of the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs in accordance with the government’s Vision 2020 plan. Here in Diego Martin in a community with a rich sporting history, I wish to emphasize the key principles of the Vision 2020 plan for sport. The main Vision 2020 goals are

• To develop Sport as an industry.
• To promote youth development through sport.
• To develop the necessary supporting functions to enhance the growth of both the youth and sport sectors.

It is abundantly clear, brothers and sisters that under the PNM, sport in Trinidad and Tobago has made remarkable strides. I assure you that this is just the beginning. A golden era of sport is on the horizon. After the Beijing Olympics a team was assembled, to do a study tour of Jamaica to learn from their success. On our return we assembled a think tank with all the major players, UTT, UWI, M of E, STTE, TTOC, NAA, Hasley Crawford, other sporting intellects and a Change Management Consultant. We laboured for a year and have come up with a plan that proposes sweeping changes to finally create a Sport System, consistent with Vision 2020. Participants in the process will tell you that during working sessions they often got goose pimples. They all agreed that we are about to set in motion a process that will bring about massive gains in sport to T & T. This unique and unprecedented plan will place sport in Trinidad and Tobago firmly on the international map. The documents are nearing completion and soon I will be able to present it to the Cabinet. The PNM, my friends believe that our sportsmen and women are capable of greatness and we will do what is necessary to achieve sustained excellence.

In doing so, we are continuing the great tradition of the PNM, which has always sought to provide the support that our people need to achieve their dreams and aspirations. From 1956 to now the PNM has consistently demonstrated its deep commitment to national development in all spheres including sport and youth. As I said, the best is yet to come and I have no doubt that with God’s continued blessings the red, white and black will continue to fly proudly and magnificently around the world. And when our national flag is being raised, in the back ground you will hear a common cry that we proclaim to the top of our voice and deep from within our hearts…..

GREAT IS THE PNM. GREAT IS THE PNM and it SHALL PREVAIL !