Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar on Thursday called on Trinidad and Tobago's citizens to reject prejudice and strengthen national unity during an African Emancipation Day observance hosted by the Office of the Prime Minister. Addressing members of the diplomatic corps, government officials, public servants and invited guests, Persad-Bissessar said the annual commemoration serves both to honor the millions of Africans who endured the transatlantic slave trade and to recognize their enduring contribution to the country's development. She described emancipation as a defining moment in the nation's history and said the sacrifices of enslaved Africans laid the foundation for modern Trinidad and Tobago.

During the address, Persad-Bissessar reflected on Trinidad and Tobago's multicultural society, noting that while her own family descends from Indian indentured laborers, their opportunities in the country were made possible by the earlier struggle for freedom by enslaved Africans. She said descendants of African, Indian, European, Chinese, Middle Eastern and Indigenous communities have collectively shaped the nation, and urged citizens not to allow political or racial differences to undermine national cohesion. The prime minister said words can either unite or divide society and called for renewed commitment to dignity, fairness, equality and mutual respect as guiding principles for both government and the wider public.