Did PM Modi Receive a Warm Welcome in Trinidad & Tobago?

Port of Spain, July 4 (NationPress) Prime Minister Narendra Modi touched down on Thursday, where he was greeted by his counterpart from Trinidad and Tobago, Kamla Persad-Bissessar, who wore traditional Indian attire to welcome him at Piarco International Airport.

Upon his arrival, PM Modi was given a ceremonial reception, with 38 Ministers and four Members of Parliament from Trinidad and Tobago present to greet him.

"I have landed in Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago. My sincere thanks to Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, esteemed members of the Cabinet, and MPs for their warm welcome at the airport. This visit aims to further solidify the bilateral relationship between our nations. I am eager to participate in a community event shortly," PM Modi stated in a post on the social media platform X.

According to the Prime Minister's Office, "PM @narendramodi has arrived in Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago. In a notable gesture, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, accompanied by distinguished Cabinet members and MPs, warmly welcomed him at the airport."

He also interacted with members of the Indian diaspora who were present at the airport.

This marks the second leg of PM Modi's five-nation tour, which began with a successful visit to Ghana.

During this official visit, PM Modi plans to engage in discussions with Trinidad and Tobago's leadership to strengthen their bilateral ties.

This is PM Modi's inaugural visit to the Caribbean nation as Prime Minister and the first Indian bilateral visit at the prime ministerial level since 1999.

While in Trinidad and Tobago, PM Modi will engage in talks with President Christine Carla Kangaloo and Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar to discuss fortifying their bilateral relationship.

Earlier, PM Modi addressed the Parliament of Ghana and dedicated the esteemed "Officer of the Order of the Star of Ghana" awarded to him to the enduring friendship and mutual values shared between the two nations.

"I'm departing for Trinidad & Tobago. I eagerly anticipate attending a community program in Port of Spain later today. Tomorrow, I will address the Parliament of Trinidad & Tobago. I look forward to enhancing our ties with a valued partner in the Caribbean, with whom we share deep cultural connections," PM Modi posted earlier on X following his two-day visit to Ghana.

Trinidad & Tobago is the second stop on the Prime Minister's ongoing five-nation tour, which will also include visits to Argentina, Brazil, and Namibia.

Similar to Ghana, PM Modi will address a Joint Session of the Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago on Friday.

This visit is expected to inject new energy into the historic, cultural, and people-to-people connections that exist between the two nations.

President Kangaloo was the Chief Guest at this year's Pravasi Bhartiya Divas, while Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar, who has recently begun her second term, has visited India in the past and has received the Pravasi Bhartiya Samman award.

Indians first set foot in Trinidad and Tobago 180 years ago, and PM Modi's visit is anticipated to rejuvenate the special ties of ancestry and kinship that bind both nations.

This marks PM Modi's second visit to the Caribbean region within eight months; his previous visit was to Guyana in November 2024. This showcases India's commitment to the Caribbean nations and highlights India's expanding partnership with CARICOM.

Last November, during the second India-CARICOM Summit in Georgetown, PM Modi emphasized India's unwavering support for voicing the concerns of the Global South. He noted that countries in the Global South have been significantly affected by recent challenges and conflicts, reiterating India's commitment to stand as a reliable partner for Caribbean nations.

During the Guyana Summit, PM Modi also met with then Prime Minister Keith Rowley of Trinidad and Tobago to congratulate him on the adoption of India's flagship UPI Platform and assured further collaboration in the area of digital transformation.

Both nations are keen to expand and diversify their cooperation in emerging areas such as pharmaceuticals, tertiary care, renewable energy, digital public infrastructure, agriculture, disaster resilience, and innovation and technology, alongside sports, academia, and cultural exchanges.

"This visit occurs at a significant time, as this year, 2025, marks 180 years since the arrival of Indian immigrants in Trinidad and Tobago," noted MEA Secretary (South) Neena Malhotra during a media briefing on Monday, ahead of the Prime Minister's five-nation tour.

Bilateral ties between both nations are reinforced by a vibrant Indian diaspora. Approximately 40–45% of Trinidad and Tobago's total population of 1.36 million comprises the Indian diaspora, descendants of immigrants who arrived starting in 1845, who maintain strong cultural and emotional ties with India.

PM Modi's address at the joint session of the Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago is viewed as a testament to India's traditions and democratic values, reaffirming New Delhi's deep-rooted relationships with the Caribbean.

"The Speaker's chair in Parliament was a gift from India, symbolizing the strong democratic and parliamentary traditions shared by our two nations," stated Secretary Malhotra.

This visit is particularly meaningful for both the President and Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, as they both have Indian heritage and take pride in identifying themselves as "daughters of India."

"The Indian community in Trinidad and Tobago is very enthusiastic about PM Modi's upcoming visit, and a significant diaspora interaction event is planned during this time. The PM will engage in high-level talks with both the President and Prime Minister, covering the full spectrum of our bilateral relations, as well as regional and multilateral dimensions," mentioned the MEA Secretary.