Patriotism is not about a fancy suit and cocktails but rather about celebrating with our citizens, chairman of the United National Congress (UNC) David Lee said yesterday, as he condemned Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley for what he said were misleading statements concerning the Opposition’s absence at Independence Day celebrations.
Before leaving the country for the United States on Friday, Rowley said it was “painful” that the Opposition chose not to attend the country’s Independence Day celebrations.
“One cannot embark on a search for unity in the face of the behaviour of the official Opposition in Trinidad and Tobago. There are 18 seats in the Parliament filled by Opposition members, 18 communities voted them into office and it was painful to look around the Savannah and elsewhere where we had celebrations and not see a single Opposition face.
“That must say something to this country and it is time we address this frontally and I have no difficult doing so,” Rowley said in an obvious reference to the Opposition UNC absenting itself from the main Independence Day Parade at the Queen’s Park Savannah, Port-of-Spain and other related festivities on the day.
However, Lee yesterday slammed Rowley for his comments.
“For many years emerging from my childhood, it has been a family tradition to stand on the roadside with my relatives along with thousands of other citizens to observe the parade as it makes its way from the Savannah,” Lee stated.
“Upon being elected to our nation’s Parliament two years ago I was of the firm view that this tradition became even more relevant, as it was critical for citizens to see their elected officials celebrating our nation’s greatest achievement with them ‘on the ground’ and as a result I stood with my fellow countrymen on the pavement for Independence Day celebrations 2017 as I did in 2016 and many years before that.”
Lee said Rowley needs to note that “the main aspect of Independence is the celebration of self-governance or governance ‘by the people for the people’ and to demonstrate patriotism one does not need to dress in fancy suit while attending a cocktail reception.”
“Real patriotism is exemplified by being one with those who have elected us as representatives, allowing us to fully implement the powers that were granted to us by Independence,” Lee said.
He also questioned the decision by the People’s National Movement to boycott this country’s 50th Independence Day celebrations five years ago “under the guise that they were hosting their own.” He said “real unpatriotism is exemplified when the needs of our citizens are ignored, as has become the modus operandi of this current administration.”