PRESIDENT Christine Kangaloo has called on citizens to leave behind toxic public discourse and self-derision in 2026.
She made the comment in her New Year’s Day message yesterday.
The President singled out what she described as a damaging culture of self-derision, including the popular saying “Trinidad is not a real place”, as well as caustic public language and low expectations of leadership, which she said had weighed down the country in 2025.
Nonetheless, Kangaloo reminded that 2025 was not a year of misfortune for Trinidad and Tobago.
“Still, 2025 was no ‘annus horribilis’ (horrible year). Far from it. In 2025, we revelled, with justifiable abandon, in the heroic feats of Keshorn Walcott, Jereem Richards and the Trinbago Knight Riders. We also saw our democracy at its finest, in the way of yet another smooth and peaceful transition of power, away from one government and to another. Our many achievements across the areas of sport, academia and culture also added to what was truly a memorable year in our country’s history,” Kangaloo said.
She also called on Trinidad and Tobago to embrace patriotism, discipline and respect as the nation marks the 50th anniversary of republican status.
According to Kangaloo, part of the appeal of a new year is the chance it affords to leave behind what has weighed the country down or held us back as a country. She said the new year gave the opportunity to learn from the past and to apply those newly learnt lessons in the next phase of the country’s journey.
She pointed out that while adversity is rarely welcome, it strengthens resilience, sharpens creativity and tests resolve. In confronting challenges, she reminded citizens of our capacity to endure and succeed.
Overcoming challenges
She said as the nation moves into 2026, it does so after a year defined by difficulty, with a clear call to apply the lessons learned to the task of shaping a better future. She explained that as the country faced the next 12 months, citizens should aim to learn from the adversities of 2025, adding that 2026 will bring in its challenges.
“But I remain confident that, standing side by side, and with boundless faith in our destiny, we will rise to meet and overcome them. We will do so if we return to loving ourselves fully, and to practising greater levels of patriotism.
“We will do so if we are brave enough to identify the areas in which we can improve, and if we resolve to do better. We will do so if each of us considers the roles we play in the life of our nation, ask ourselves where we can grow in responsibility, discipline and respect, and how we can contribute to building a country of which we can all be proud and glad.”
Kangaloo applauded the creativity, ingenuity and talent alive in Trinidad and Tobago and said such efforts will bear much fruit.
She added that 2026 holds special national importance as Trinidad and Tobago marks 50 years as a republic — a milestone she described as the final step in the country’s journey towards self-determination. She concluded by saying that she along with her husband extended best wishes to all for 2026.
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