PM Modi visits Trinidad & Tobago; welcomed with Bhojpuri Chautaal

New Delhi (India) July 4: A formal welcome was given to PM Modi when he arrived at Piarco International Airport. This is his first trip to the nation as prime minister and the first time India has visited Trinidad and Tobago bilaterally as prime minister since 1999.

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar of Trinidad and Tobago invited the visit.

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar welcomed PM Modi, along with four members of the Caribbean country's parliament and 38 other ministers with Bhojpuri chautaal and ministers wearing Indian attire.

With the Bihar elections just a few months away, the optics were ideal and it was a cultural connection unlike any other.

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar of Trinidad and Tobago also received a replica of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya from Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with holy water from the Saryu River and the Mahakumbh held in Prayagraj.

PM Modi also met with Indian community members in Trinidad and Tobago and praised their contributions to the nation's progress. He observed that the community had maintained strong ties to Indian culture while also succeeding in a number of fields.

Modi posted, "Many people from India made their way to Trinidad & Tobago years ago. Over the years, they distinguished themselves in several fields and are enriching Trinidad & Tobago's development journey. At the same time, they have retained a connection with India and are also passionate about Indian culture. Grateful to the local Indian community for an unforgettable welcome in Port of Spain" on social media platform X.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized that the country's prime minister, Kamla Persad-Bissessar, has ancestors from Buxar, Bihar and that India is linked to Trinidad and Tobago by belonging, not just by blood or last name.

Modi said, “The ancestors of PM Kamla were from Bihar’s Buxar. She has also visited the place. People consider her the daughter of Bihar."

He also added, “Bihar’s heritage is the pride of India and the world. The state has shown the way to the world in various fields for centuries. New opportunities will emerge from Bihar in the 21st century."

According to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Trinidad and Tobago's sixth-generation Indian citizens will now be able to obtain Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cards, which will enable them to live and work in India without restrictions.

He also urged the community of Indian origins to travel to their ancestral homeland and strengthen their ties to India.

He said, “Today, I’m happy to announce that the OCI cards will be given to the sixth generation of the Indian diaspora in Trinidad and Tobago." 

The Prime Minister emphasized that the struggles their ancestors faced could have "broken even the strongest spirits." He said that the Indian community in Trinidad and Tobago has bravely travelled this path.

Aadrika Tayal