MESSAGE TO THE NATION
FROM DR THE HONOURABLE KEITH ROWLEY
PRIME MINISTER OF THE REPUBLIC OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
ON THE OCCASION OF
SPIRITUAL SHOUTER BAPTIST LIBERATION DAY 2024
Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago – [March 30th, 2025 – or relevant year for the message] – Every year, as Greetings are extended to the Spiritual Shouter Baptist community on behalf of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, the Prime Minister and his family reflect on this religion and its founders. These spiritually inspired individuals are recognized as outstanding exemplars of defiance, courage, endurance, and resilience.
The history of the Spiritual Shouter Baptist Faith is deeply emotional, rooted in resistance to British colonial rule. This public holiday celebrates a historical experience that dates back some 500 years, connecting directly to the transatlantic slave trade.
In the 15th century, Portugal and Spain commercialized slavery, transporting thousands of African slaves across the Middle Passage to the Americas to meet labor demands on plantations. Britain later became the primary operator, moving millions of slaves across the Caribbean in ships described by one historian as “squalid floating prisons.” This institution allowed Britain to entrench its authority across vast portions of the Americas and the Caribbean. As Dr. Eric Williams, Trinidad and Tobago’s first Prime Minister, noted: “Slavery was not born of racism; rather racism was the consequence of slavery.”
Enslavement meant dehumanization; slaves had no legal rights, were vulnerable to impunity, and faced severe punishment for resistance. Against this centuries-old historical context, the Spiritual Shouter Baptists are to be profoundly appreciated. The Faith is commended for its courageous resistance to British colonial authorities, steadfastly insisting on the right of its followers to worship and express their spiritual inspiration.
Today, throughout Trinidad and Tobago, the Spiritual Baptist faith holds celebrations. This public holiday is a national commendation of the Spiritual Shouter Baptist Faith’s enduring struggle to establish the fundamental civil right to worship.
Fellow citizens are encouraged to celebrate alongside the Spiritual Shouter Baptist community, recognizing their contributions to religious freedom and resilience in Trinidad and Tobago.
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