March 20th marks World Happiness Day! Despite our challenges like high crime, water shortages, and poor transportation, can Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) join the global celebration?
The theme for World Happiness Day 2024, “Reconnecting for Happiness: Building Resilient Communities,” reminds us of our duty to make our communities stronger and happier.
With political disconnect and broken systems, we must consider: How can we stay strong when basic infrastructural support, is scarce? What can we do when those whom we have appointed as administrators, and paid beyond the dreams of many in our society, fail us repeatedly over multiple decades and show zero remorse? Worse, they often treat our valid requests with disdain, forgetting that they are our employees.
There is no other option than to join the celebration and be happy. After all, the majority of those who vote seem to be willing to accept the remarkably low level of governance we have been experiencing for the majority of the time since 1962.
Collectively we must face the tough issues shaping our lives (since we have allowed it to happen) and find, recognize, and augment the strength of our people. Despite tough times and previous and current disastrous leadership, we have managed to survive and some even thrive, all without rioting. It has been said that it’s possible that some of our best minds have ended up sweeping streets, or getting into criminal activities, while some of our worst minds appear to be succeeding.
There is no easy fix to our current state of discomfort, distress, and poor systems. The transformative change needed will require leadership that is strong and willing to make tough decisions and live with the consequences. We have seen little or no evidence of such leadership in many years.
We need leadership that is above reproach and will do the right things because it is the right thing to do and not for votes or kickbacks or for personal gain. Our focus must be on people development and not simply on constructing new buildings. Our focus must be on improving the systems, structures, and processes. Our civic employees (politicians) must take World Happiness Day into consideration and focus on building resilient communities if we are to reconnect for happiness.
Fundamentally, the journey to resilience and happiness starts with reconnecting—with our country, our families, and our communities. We must transcend our traditional conditioning to discover and realise that we all have something to contribute (and be willing to recognise that others can contribute, even if we disagree with them) then commit to making positive changes wherever we can.
As we celebrate World Happiness Day, let’s answer the UN’s call and work together for joy and resilience. No matter our age, gender, or background, let’s build a happier, stronger T&T based on empathy and teamwork. It is our resilience that gives us hope for finding happiness and creating communities that can weather any storm.
Dennise Demming 