Opposition Leader’s Message on the start of the Holy Month of Ramadan

Assalam-wa alaikum
Peace and blessings be upon you!

On behalf of the Opposition, I extend best wishes to our Muslim brothers and sisters in Trinidad and Tobago, and around the world, as they begin the observance of Ramadan, a month devoted to fasting, prayer, honouring Allah (swt), and celebrating the revelation of the Holy Qur’an.

It is in the spirit of peace, mutual admiration and respect that I extend greetings to you and your families, and I encourage and support you as you undertake your month-long spiritual journey through rigorous fasting and prayer.

The fast that you undertake now is a powerful sign of your commitment to your faith and of your obedience to Allah (swt) so that, as it says in the Qur’an (al-Baqara 183): “you may become more righteous,” and that “you may glorify God and be grateful” (al-Baqara 185). Your fast expresses thirst and passion for a closer relationship with Allah (swt), for faith and forgiveness, for justice and peace.

During Ramadan, Muslims devote themselves to prayer with particular attention and frequency, beyond that of the five daily prayers, and the faith and devotion with which our Muslim brothers and sisters approach prayer are truly admirable. Fasting and the giving of alms are two main pillars of Islam, because they are signs of humility and righteousness.

Today, it is incumbent upon us, as brothers and sisters to join our hands and hearts to build a world of peace and justice. With the breaking of your fast at the end of each day of Ramadan, you express our shared value of community, of gathering around a meal Iftar, a meal that is shared with all so that all might benefit from the bountiful goodness of Allah (swt).

We need to strengthen the conviction that we are one single human family. There are no frontiers or barriers, political or social, behind which we can hide.

During this month, in addition to fasting, many of you will also fulfil the religious duty of Zakah, charity that is given for the care of the poor. Today, millions of people in the world live in extreme poverty and hunger. Poverty is a human problem for which we share responsibility, regardless of religion, race, ethnicity and country of origin. Fasting helps us to feel how millions feel all year round.

Ramadan reminds all of us to reflect upon and appreciate our blessings and to put the needs of others before our own. My focus, and that of the Government which I led, has always been people-centered development. We worked to ensure a better quality of life for all citizens. Today, not enough is being done to protect the vulnerable in our society, and the onus is on each of us to do our part, to work together to assist those in need.

As you focus your efforts on sacrifice and charity during this sacred period of Ramadan, I ask you, and all citizens of our nation to commit to working to build our nation. We are all well aware of the difficult social and economic circumstances facing us, but I urge you to not lose hope. I firmly believe that together, we can build a peaceful, secure and prosperous Trinidad and Tobago.

It gives me great pleasure on behalf of the Opposition, myself and my family, to extend to the Muslim community here and worldwide a most blessed and peaceful Ramadan.

Ramadan Mubarak! Ramadan Kareem!

Kamla Persad-Bissessar, SC, MP
26th May, 2017