President Anthony Carmona has extended condolences to the victims of the Paris bombings on behalf of the people of T&T. In a media release by the President’s office yesterday detailed a 15-minute conversation between Carmona and Heidi Picquart, Ambassador of France to T&T on Saturday.
"The people of T&T extend deepest condolences to the families of the innocent victims whose lives have been tragically lost in Friday night’s (13 November 2015) brutal assault not only on the French way of life, culture and value system but on its very democracy. An attack on France and its democracy is an attack on all of us,” Carmona said.
He also extended well wishes to French President François Hollande in the aftermath of the attack.
“To the President and the People of France, yours is a democracy, long established and historically molded out of the strength and will of a resilient people. Your spirit and determination, in this most testing time, must be reflective of that innate will and courage and must not falter in the face of these multiple, horrific acts of terrorism. Fear must not become the master of your destiny neither must it be the basis of your future vision. T&T is with you in your time of great sadness and grief and offers its open hands in prayers, empathy, condolences and solidarity,” the media release stated. It also said that Ambassador Picquart expressed his appreciation and comfort for the call.
In his address to the diplomats, at a function he hosted to honour them, at Pier 1, Chaguaramas, on Saturday, Carmona said described the terrorist strike as a “brutal assault not only on the French way of life, culture and value system but on its very democracy.
An attack on France and its democracy is an attack on all of us. These premeditated acts of extremism have no place in France or any progressive society, principled on inclusivity, tolerance, diplomacy and non-violence.”