Message From Kamla Persad-Bissessar On Labour Day 2025

Prime Minister the Honourable Kamla Persad-Bissessar, SC, MP, has released the following message on the occasion of Labour Day 2025 (Thursday 19th June, 2025), which also coincides with the occasion of Corpus Christi:

“Fellow citizens,

As we commemorate Labour Day in Trinidad and Tobago, we pause to honour the men and women whose hard work, courage, and determination have built and sustained our nation.

Labour Day is more than a public holiday — it is a powerful reminder of the enduring struggle for fairness, dignity, and justice in the workplace. We remember the great leaders of our labour movement who, in the face of oppression and exploitation, stood tall and demanded not just better wages and conditions, but a voice in the decisions that shape our country.

The labour movement in Trinidad and Tobago has always been a cornerstone of our democracy. From the oilfields of South Trinidad to the corridors of Parliament, our trade unions have fought to ensure that workers are not voiceless, that they are respected, and that their contribution to national development is recognised. Their early struggles for a seat at the table helped pave the way for the modern participatory democracy we now enjoy. For this, we owe our labour heroes a debt of gratitude.

Today, as Prime Minister, I wish to extend my deepest thanks to all union leaders, workers, and advocates who have kept that spirit alive. Your voices, your sweat, and your sacrifices have shaped the backbone of our economy and the character of our society.

But I also come to you today not only with thanks — but with understanding and with a solemn promise.

I know that many of our workers are struggling. The last decade has been one of hardship — marked by economic mismanagement, rising costs of living, and policies that too often ignored the real concerns of working families. Too many of you are still lining up at the grocery counter, having to decide what to put back. Too many are watching your bills pile up, wondering how you will make ends meet.

I see you. I hear you. And I am with you.

My Government has inherited deep and serious challenges — but I want you to know that we are not turning a blind eye. We are working — tirelessly and urgently — to fix what was broken. I ask the labour movement and all citizens for patience and continued partnership as we undo the damage of the past and lay the groundwork for a fairer, more resilient economy.

This will not happen overnight — but it will happen. I give you my word: we will restore dignity to the working class. We will bring down the cost of living. We will create opportunities. And we will ensure that no worker is left behind.

As we look to the future, let us stand together — not in anger, but in solidarity. Let us draw strength from the legacy of those who came before us and hold firm in the belief that better days are ahead.

To every nurse, teacher, police officer, oilfield worker, public servant, farmer, cleaner, driver, and every other hardworking citizen — I thank you. Hold the strain, hold the line. Help is not just coming — it is here. And together, we will rebuild this nation.

May God bless you all, and may God continue to bless the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.”