On Republic Day, a day that belongs to every citizen of Trinidad and Tobago, our Prime Minister chose to address her message primarily to members of her own political party. This is worth pausing on, because the role of Prime Minister is not the same as the role of a party leader.
When a person becomes Prime Minister, they take on a responsibility that goes far beyond their political base. They become the Head of Government for every citizen — those who voted for them, those who voted against them, and those who did not vote at all. On a national occasion like Republic Day, that responsibility becomes even more important. It is a moment meant to bring the whole country together to reflect on our shared journey, not a moment for one party to speak only to itself.
Instead, the message spoke of “defending” the party “ruthlessly and ferociously” against those who would “diminish or destroy” it. It described political opponents, and even members of the party’s own past, in combative terms. This kind of language may have a place in party meetings or campaign rallies, but it does not reflect the tone the entire nation deserves to hear from its Prime Minister on a day meant for unity.
This matters for a simple reason: our young people are listening. They watch how our leaders speak, and they learn from it — how to express disagreement, how to handle criticism, how to lead. If the most senior person in government speaks in aggressive, combative language on a national occasion, it becomes harder to ask our children to speak with discipline, respect, and clear grammar in their own lives. Leadership means modelling the behaviour we hope to see in the next generation, not just the behaviour that motivates a political base.
A Prime Minister’s words carry weight well beyond their party’s membership. Every citizen has a right to feel spoken to, included, and respected by their national leader — regardless of which party they support, or none at all. Republic Day, of all days, should have been used to speak to that shared identity as Trinbagonians, not to a single party’s grievances and battles.
I hope our leaders — across all parties — will reflect on this distinction. Speaking to the whole country is not simply good manners. It is the basic responsibility of the office.
Dennise Demming, MSc, MBA
Wellness Therapist, Communications Coach, Speaker
