Caption: Pennelope Beckles. Photo: T&T Parliament
News brief
- A Historic Parallel: Opposition Leader Pennelope Beckles used her Spiritual Baptist Liberation Day message to draw a sharp comparison between the historic oppression of the faith and the current political climate in Trinidad and Tobago.
- SoE Concerns: Beckles warned that under the current State of Emergency and expanding Emergency Powers Regulations, there is a growing and dangerous restriction on free expression.
- Censorship Alarms: The Opposition Leader specifically pointed to recent signals from the Telecommunications Authority of Trinidad and Tobago (TATT), raising fears of active censorship and the silencing of dissenting voices.
- Honouring the Struggle: While sounding the alarm on civil liberties, Beckles paid tribute to the 75th anniversary of the repeal of the Shouter Prohibition Ordinance, honouring stalwarts like Archbishop Elton Griffith and Tubal Uriah ‘Buzz’ Butler.
By Prior Beharry
OPPOSITION Leader Pennelope Beckles has drawn a stark parallel between the historic persecution of the Spiritual Baptist community and the current State of Emergency (SoE), warning citizens that fundamental freedoms in Trinidad and Tobago are once again under threat.
In her official message for Spiritual Baptist Liberation Day 2026, Beckles began by honouring the 75th anniversary of the repeal of the 1917 Shouter Prohibition Ordinance, which she described as “one of the most unjust and oppressive laws ever imposed on our people.”
Quoting Isaiah 40:31, Beckles praised the endurance of the Spiritual Baptist community, noting that for decades, faithful men and women were harassed, fined, and imprisoned simply for worshipping. She paid tribute to historical stalwarts such as Archbishop Elton Griffith and Tubal Uriah ‘Buzz’ Butler, while also celebrating a new generation of Spiritual Baptists who are actively contributing to the nation’s development.
However, the Opposition Leader quickly pivoted from historical reflection to contemporary political concerns, declaring that “the lessons of 1917 are not confined to the past.”
Beckles stated that many citizens are expressing deep concern about the current direction of governance, specifically targeting the ongoing State of Emergency.
“Under a State of Emergency, and amid expanding Emergency Powers Regulations, there is a growing unease about restriction, control, and the narrowing space for free expression,” Beckles said.
She took direct aim at state regulators, noting that recent developments and signals from the Telecommunications Authority of Trinidad and Tobago (TATT) have raised “legitimate questions about censorship and the potential silencing of voices.” She insisted these concerns must not be dismissed.
Using the struggles of the Spiritual Baptists as a cautionary tale, Beckles argued that the community knows intimately what happens when authority dictates expression and uses power to suppress rather than protect.
“Their history stands as a powerful warning to us all,” she stated. “We must never again allow fear to justify the erosion of fundamental freedoms. We must never again permit the silencing of voices. We must never again accept oppression, no matter the form it takes.”
Calling on the government to protect constitutional rights rather than control them, Beckles urged citizens to view this year’s Liberation Day not just as a celebration, but as an “absolute call to vigilance and national preservation.”
“May we honour the past by protecting the present,” Beckles concluded. “May we defend our freedoms with courage and conviction. May the voices of our people, like the Spiritual Baptists before us, never be silenced again.”
