MESSAGE TO THE NATION
FROM DR THE HONOURABLE KEITH ROWLEY
PRIME MINISTER OF THE REPUBLIC OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
ON THE OCCASION OF EASTER 2024
Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago – Easter Sunday [April 20, 2025] – “Jesus Christ has risen!” — this cry of exaltation reverberates among millions of Christians across the world today. The Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, along with my family and myself, as Prime Minister, extend heartfelt greetings to the Christian community, adding our voices to this profound declaration that Jesus Christ has risen.
This is a glorious period for the Christian community, following the solemn recounts of Christ’s Last Supper, His agony in the Garden of Gethsemane, His betrayal and abandonment, and then His trial, humiliation, and crucifixion on Good Friday. Today marks His resurrection, which Christians celebrate as His return to remind His disciples to spread His word throughout the land.
The narrative of “Doubting Thomas,” a significant part of this story, where an Apostle of Christ refused to accept the account of the other ten Apostles until he personally witnessed and touched Christ’s wounds, resonates deeply. Thomas’s skepticism, carried throughout the ages, remains relevant in our lives today. He represents those among us who struggle to accept the limits of human understanding in the face of the mysteries of God.
Man has forged a modern world, witnessing incredible advances in technology, economics, politics, the sciences, the workplace, fashion, and the arts, fostering a new consciousness in how we think and feel. In essence, modernity has brought about both radical changes and radical uncertainties to our lives. Some believe that the continuous accumulation of scientific evidence is the new authority, granting humanity mastery over itself, nature, and perhaps, ultimately, over death. Some even suggest a future where God might be replaced by algorithms.
However, there is a discernible downside. Modernity has introduced what some describe as certain “diseases.” While there is an improved quality of life—often better than that of our parents—these advancements come with emotional costs. We can sense a growing separation among us; many feel alienated, living in close proximity yet remaining separate, unknown, indifferent, and strangers in our neighborhoods, workplaces, markets, and even churches.
Urban living, in particular, has often led to the loss of a vital sense of community. Many individuals merely exist, leading lonely and isolated lives, devoid of friendly connections, carrying daily feelings of emptiness, adrift in a rapidly spinning secular world. Concurrently, there are concerning reports of a decline in church attendance and organized worship.
Yet, prayer and divine worship have historically been integral to human emotional health and existence. We all need to acknowledge the limitations of our humanity and embark on our personal spiritual journeys.
Today is a glorious day to return to God, to reaffirm the presence of the Almighty in your life. Call out to Him, by whatever name you may know – just reach out to God. Today, Glorious Easter Sunday, regardless of where you sit, is a great day to start your inner journey.
