Former independent senator Rev Daniel Teelucksingh says parliamentarians must celebrate each other’s differences, as the citizens of T&T were told to do the same during Emancipation Day celebrations last week. He said in countless speeches at various functions for Emancipation Day, Indian Arrival Day and Independence Day, the cliché statement “celebrate our differences” was directed to citizens but asked why politicians did not celebrate their political differences. Teelucksingh directed his questions to newly-elected MP for Chaguanas West Jack Warner, Chaguanas mayor Orlando Nagessar and councillor for Charlieville Falisha Isahak, who were seated in the congregation during service at the St Charles Presbyterian Church, Chaguanas, on Sunday. “Why do you curse their differences? MP and mayor? And councillor?” he asked them from his pulpit.
Warner and Nagessar occupied two front-row pews. Teelucksingh laced his sermon with rhetorical questions, asking if politicians and parliamentarians knew what “celebrate” meant, and whether it was possible for them to truly celebrate their differences, as they wished it for society. “Let me tell you something, don’t advise us to celebrate all these differences and you do not celebrate your own differences,” he added. Teelucksingh said it was time for “you” to be happy with the differences in the Upper and Lower House. “What you say councillor?” he said to Isahak, who was seated in the second pew.
Speaking to the T&T Guardian after the sermon, Warner endorsed Teelucksingh’s words, saying the sermon’s message fell on a “receptive ear.” “That couldn’t come at a more timely occasion because of the amount of bitterness and hate that exists now among politicians and parliamentarians,” Warner said. “I don’t know if the others will listen... I will listen. We have to put aside our differences as politicians to build this country,” he said.