00:00 Opposition leader Kamala Biswasa hosts the 26th annual Diwali celebration
00:07 which sees the attendance of her party's MPs, councillors, close associates and
00:13 even foreign diplomats.
00:15 Her Excellency Candice Bonn, Ambassador of the USA here in Trinidad.
00:20 Let's welcome her. Thank you so much. Let's give her a good Separa welcome please.
00:24 Thank you.
00:25 His Excellency, Ambassador of China to Trinidad and Tobago.
00:29 Let's give her a round of applause.
00:32 And I'm not done yet. More special people.
00:35 His Excellency, Ambassador of France.
00:38 But he's not here alone. He came with his wife and daughter.
00:41 Let's welcome to my constituency.
00:44 But the day proves to be bittersweet.
00:47 It's a celebration the former Prime Minister was conflicted about hosting
00:51 after the passing of her paternal aunt just hours earlier.
00:56 I cannot stand in front of you and smile as you have grown accustomed to
01:02 because my heart is deeply troubled and grieved.
01:05 As one of those Lakshmis that I spoke of in my own life passed away yesterday.
01:12 Last evening my paternal auntie, I lost her.
01:18 She was a matriarch.
01:20 Auntie later was not just an aunt. She was my second mother.
01:26 Her home was my home.
01:28 My pain was her pain and her love was one of my greatest sources of strength.
01:33 Like any other person experiencing loss,
01:36 Besar Besasa expresses distress at times she wiped away tears.
01:42 If my head hurts, you know where I go?
01:46 I find myself in Buddhist race with Auntie later.
01:49 If I'm having fever, I go to Auntie later.
01:53 I go to her family.
01:55 They've always been my safe space.
01:57 And when sometimes it gets you down in public life as many of you are here,
02:01 where do you go?
02:03 That was my second home.
02:05 A home of salvation. My house of refuge.
02:08 Reflecting on her own span of office,
02:11 the Separia MP expressed gratitude to those who kept her undefeated.
02:17 But may some time to truly express my gratitude to the thousands of my constituents.
02:23 I want to say thank you Separia.
02:25 Thank you. Thank you.
02:27 I've been in public life 28 years and never once have you left my side.
02:31 She invited diplomats to the stage where,
02:35 from a brass lamp in her hand,
02:38 light was shed so each could illuminate their own wax tears.
02:43 When our forefathers came, they did not have gold.
02:47 They did not have silver.
02:49 They did not have diamonds.
02:51 What they brought were the holy texts, the Ramayana and the Koran.
02:58 And that is what today now we celebrate.
03:01 I invite you to join us, excellencies,
03:04 as we light our dears in honor of this great festival of light,
03:08 always remembering that light will always dispel the darkness.
03:12 Parvishi Tamwari, Rupnur Ain, TV6 News.
03:15 TV6 News.
03:15 [BLANK_AUDIO]
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