Indian Arrival Day 2021 comes at a time when our country, and the Indian subcontinent, are facing a monumental crisis. It is a period of great urgency for all of us, one that demands increased levels of collaboration and sustained sensibility amongst our populace.

What seems evident as we continue to navigate another year of this devastating pandemic, is the widespread fatigue that has surfaced. This fatigue is often compounded by fear for many of our citizens, some of whose worlds have changed forever. Therefore, we continue to channel social and economic support to assist those in need through the Tobago House of Assembly.

While celebrating historic days has always been a source of pride for us; the value of these days has become even more significant during this crisis. Truly, occasions such as today go beyond our history— they also remind us of the incredible strength and power that we possess as a people.

These days offer us remarkable insight about who we are, which is especially important in our most vulnerable moments.

Today, serves as a timely reminder that we are a nation birthed by ancestors who refused to give up. Some of us, descendants of East Indians who journeyed for months aboard the Fatel Razack, across the tempestuous seas. Heirs of a legacy of determination and endurance by a people who were not broken by their harsh conditions and realities. Let us remember that we have inherited that same iron will and nerve of steel, as we deal with this current pandemic.

Survival courses through our blood and we will surmount the challenge that confronts us. But, doing so also requires that we all prioritise discipline and unity.

Although we are unable to celebrate this Indian Arrival Day in customary fashion and even as we remember in prayer, India, the land of our ancestors, we honour the extraordinary contributions of the Indo-Trinbagonian community. From education to entrepreneurship, and other spheres, you continue to enrich and build this beloved nation.

Let us continue the crucial work of shaping Trinidad and Tobago together. Please also keep on praying for this country as we continue to navigate this pandemic. Have a safe and enjoyable Indian Arrival Day!