Trinidad and Tobago on Friday awarded its highest nationwide honor, the Order of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, to visiting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi — marking the primary time a overseas chief has acquired the celebrated award.
The ceremony passed off at President’s Home in St Ann’s, simply exterior the capital, Port of Spain. President Christine Carla Kangaloo introduced the award to Modi, who’s at the moment on the second leg of a five-nation tour geared toward strengthening New Delhi’s ties with the Caribbean and Latin America.
Talking on the ceremony, Modi stated, “This honor is an emblem of the deep and everlasting friendship between our two nations,” in accordance with an official translation. He additionally expressed pleasure within the Indian neighborhood in Trinidad and Tobago, noting, “It’s a matter of nice pleasure that the Indian neighborhood right here continues to protect our shared traditions, tradition, and customs with such care and devotion.”
India and Trinidad and Tobago share an extended historical past courting again to 1845, when indentured Indian laborers first arrived to work on sugar and cocoa plantations throughout British colonial rule. Between 1845 and 1917, greater than 140,000 Indian laborers settled within the nation. Right this moment, the Indian neighborhood constitutes the biggest ethnic group, accounting for 35.4 p.c of the nation’s inhabitants of 1.4 million. Black Trinidadians symbolize the second largest group at 34.2 p.c.
Modi praised President Kangaloo and Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar as “the largest model ambassadors of this neighborhood,” including, “Our relationship carries the joy of cricket and the flavour of Trinidad pepper.” He described Trinidad and Tobago as a “very important associate for New Delhi,” writing on X (previously Twitter), “India and Trinidad & Tobago rose from the shadows of colonial rule to put in writing our future of progress. Our nations stand tall as proud democracies and pillars of power within the trendy world.” Modi additionally referred to as for collaborative efforts to “give the World South its rightful seat on the excessive desk.”
Throughout his go to, Modi addressed the Trinidadian Parliament and signed a number of memorandums of understanding with Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar, strengthening bilateral cooperation.
The award acknowledged Modi’s “distinguished statesmanship and influential world management,” in addition to his shut ties with the Indian diaspora and humanitarian contributions through the COVID-19 pandemic, in accordance with the Ministry of Exterior Affairs (MEA). Modi expressed gratitude, stating, “Honoured to be conferred with ‘The Order of the Republic of Trinidad & Tobago’. I settle for it on behalf of 140 crore Indians.”
Highlighting cultural connections, Modi stated, “President Christine Kangaloo’s ancestors have been from the land of Saint Thiruvalluvar, Tamil Nadu. Hundreds of years in the past, Saint Thiruvalluvar acknowledged that sturdy nations ought to possess six key qualities: a powerful military, patriotic folks, ample sources, efficient management, strong defence, and pleasant nations that at all times stand collectively. Trinidad and Tobago is such a pleasant nation for India.”
The go to is historic as Modi’s first to Trinidad and Tobago as Prime Minister and the primary bilateral go to by an Indian Prime Minister to the Caribbean nation since 1999.
Whereas the go to has been hailed by many, together with former authorities minister Devant Maharaj, who referred to as Modi a “hero,” some criticism has come from Trinidad’s largest Muslim group, which questioned the choice to bestow the glory citing considerations over Modi’s human rights file.
