00:00Prime Minister Kamala Pasad-Basad said in a statement that on the sacred occasion of Maha Shivatri, she extends heartfelt
00:08greetings to the Hindu community and warm wishes for a safe, prayerful and spiritually fulfilling observance.
00:16The observance is occurring during the Carnival Weekend in Trinidad and Tobago.
00:20On Saturday, Prime Minister Pasad-Basad said Maha Shivatri serves also as a reminder of the privilege of living in
00:26a land as richly diverse as Trinidad and Tobago.
00:30The Prime Minister said, quote, ours is a society where many faiths, cultures and traditions flourish side by side, each
00:37strengthening the other, end quote.
00:39Earlier in the week, the Prime Minister announced there will be enhanced security by the police service for Carnival.
00:44In her statement on Saturday about Maha Shivatri, the Prime Minister also announced that she issued the relevant instructions to
00:52ensure that appropriate security measures are in place nationwide,
00:56enabling devotees to worship in safety, peace and dignity.
01:00The Prime Minister said the right to practice one's faith freely and without fear is fundamental and every necessary measure
01:07has been taken to safeguard this sacred observance.
01:11Prime Minister Pasad-Basad said the peaceful observance of this holy occasion reflects the mutual respect, understanding and shared humanity
01:18that define our people.
01:19Prime Minister Pasad-Basad also said this harmony is one of our greatest blessings and it is a legacy we
01:26must continue to nurture and protect.
01:29The Prime Minister said that at its core, Maha Shivatri is about renewal and added that message speaks not only
01:37to individual lives but to our wider society.
01:40Prime Minister Pasad-Basad said that at a time when the nation continues to confront crime, violence and social instability,
01:48real transformation cannot come from institutions alone.
01:51The Prime Minister noted that it begins within our homes and our communities.
01:56Jewel Brown, TV6 News.
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