President Christine Kangaloo has marked this year’s Labour Day with a call for unity and vigilance, highlighting the essential contributions of historical labour leaders in shaping Trinidad and Tobago’s socio-economic landscape. In her address, Kangaloo paid homage to pivotal figures like Uriah “Buzz” Butler, Adrian Cola Rienzi, and Andrew Arthur Cipriani, acknowledging their lasting legacy in advocating for workers’ rights.
Kangaloo stressed that the achievements from past struggles are ingrained in the nation’s laws and institutions but warned they are threatened by social divisions. “They are weakened,” she noted, “whenever public discourse divides citizens by ancestry or when communities fracture over disagreements.” The President urged for disciplined disagreement and respectful dialogue, stressing that public discussion should foster service rather than foster contempt.
On this Labour Day, Kangaloo underscored the importance of safeguarding dignity in both work and citizenship. She called upon the labour movement, employers, public institutions, and citizens to commit to creating an inclusive national environment, ensuring safety in workplaces and fairness for every worker. She cautioned that undermining any community impacts the Republic entirely.
The President concluded her message with a plea for unity, extending best wishes for a safe and purposeful Labour Day, and encouraged citizens to honor labour by protecting the foundational gains it achieved. Her message serves as both a tribute and a challenge—to preserve the dignity and respect hard-won by labour pioneers.
