PM Modi’s visit to Trinidad, Tobago marks a new chapter in India-Caribbean ties

New Delhi, Jul 4: Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Port of Spain on Thursday for a two-day State Visit to Trinidad and Tobago, the first bilateral visit by an Indian Prime Minister to the Caribbean nation since 1999. His arrival marks a deepening of the cultural and strategic partnership between the two countries, tied closely by a shared heritage and a vibrant Indian diaspora. PM Modi was received at Piarco International Airport by Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, along with 38 Cabinet Ministers and Members of Parliament. He was accorded a ceremonial Guard of Honour and welcomed with cultural performances reflective of the Indo-Caribbean legacy.

“This visit is historic from India’s side because after 26 years, a PM-level visit is taking place. A total of 13 lakh people live in this country, out of which 45 per cent are of Indian origin,” said Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, underscoring the emotional and diplomatic significance of the trip. Soon after his arrival, Prime Minister Modi received a rousing welcome from the Indian diaspora at his hotel, where Indo-Trinidadians greeted him with chants, garlands, and traditional music. Later in the evening, at a grand community event attended by over 4,000 people, Prime Minister Modi and Kamla Persad-Bissessar addressed the diaspora in a joint celebration of shared heritage.

In a tweet, PM Modi said, “ Several people in Trinidad & Tobago have their roots in India. People of India consider Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar as a daughter of Bihar.”

In a deeply symbolic gesture, Prime Minister Modi presented to Ms. Persad-Bissessar holy water from the Sarayu River and from the Mahakumbh at the Triveni Sangam, along with a replica of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. “At the dinner hosted by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, I presented a replica of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya and holy water from the Saryu river as well as from the Mahakumbh held in Prayagraj. They symbolise the deep cultural and spiritual bonds between India and Trinidad & Tobago,” the PM said in a message on X.

PM Modi also touched upon Ms. Persad-Bissessar’s ancestral roots in Buxar, Bihar. “Kamala ji herself has visited there. People consider her a daughter of Bihar,” he said, referring to her 2012 visit to her ancestral village, Bhelupur in Buxar district. In her address, Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar called PM Modi’s visit a “moment of profound pride” and announced that Trinidad and Tobago would confer its highest national award, The Order of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, on him. PM Modi expressed deep gratitude for the honour and reiterated India’s commitment to nurturing the bonds between the two nations.

The event also served as an opportunity to reaffirm India’s evolving global outlook and economic rise. In his speech, Prime Minister Modi stated that India is rapidly transforming across various sectors, including digital technologies, green energy, manufacturing, and innovation. He noted that more than 250 million people had been lifted out of poverty over the past decade and predicted that India would soon be among the world’s top three economies.

Highlighting India’s digital leadership, PM Modi promoted the use of India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) in Trinidad and Tobago, expressing confidence that it would be a success here as well. He also emphasised India’s investment in National Missions focused on Artificial Intelligence, Quantum Computing, and Semiconductors as the new engines of growth. Drawing on the Indian ethos of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam — the world is one family, PM. Modi reiterated India’s willingness to assist Trinidad and Tobago in its development goals.

In a significant announcement that was met with loud applause, PM Modi said that the Indian government would now issue Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cards to sixth-generation persons of Indian origin in Trinidad and Tobago. He also outlined plans to support initiatives that celebrate and preserve the Girmitiya legacy, referring to the indentured Indian labourers who arrived in Trinidad beginning in 1845. The evening was capped by a vibrant cultural programme featuring performances by artists from the Mahatma Gandhi Institute for Cultural Cooperation and other Indo-Caribbean groups, showcasing the richness of the shared heritage.

With this visit coinciding with the 180th anniversary of the arrival of Indian immigrants in Trinidad and Tobago, PM. Modi’s tour is more than a diplomatic outreach; it is a powerful reaffirmation of cultural kinship. As Mr. Jaiswal noted, “The relationship between India and T&T is very strong and special… most are those who have come from Bhojpuri-speaking districts like Chhapra, Ara, Ballia, Siwan, Gopalganj, Banaras, Azamgarh, etc.” Prime Minister Modi’s engagements will continue through July 4, with meetings aimed at enhancing bilateral cooperation across trade, education, digital economy, and cultural diplomacy.