Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is currently in Trinidad and Tobago as part of his five-nation diplomatic tour, hailed the journey of the Indian community in the country Thursday, saying that the “diaspora is our pride”.
Addressing a community event at the National Cycling Velodrome in Couva, the Prime Minister said: “The journey of the Indian community in Trinidad and Tobago is about courage. The circumstances your ancestors faced could have broken even the strongest of spirits. But they faced hardships with hope. They met problems with persistence.”
The Prime Minister added that it felt completely natural to him to be there as “we are part of one family”.
Trinidad and Tobago has a population of approximately 13 lakh, 45 per cent of whom are of Indian origin.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi greets people upon arriving at Piarco International Airport in Piarco, Trinidad and Tobago. (AP)
Modi said that between the past and the present, the friendship between the two nations has “grown even stronger”. “Our bonds go well beyond geography and generations,” the PM said.
Calling his counterpart, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, ‘daughter of Bihar’, he said, “Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s ancestors lived in Buxar, Bihar. Kamala ji herself has visited there. People consider her a daughter of Bihar. Many people present here have ancestors who came from Bihar itself. Bihar’s heritage is a matter of pride not only for India but for the entire world.”
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the crowd during an event with the Indian diaspora at the National Cycling Centre in Couva, Trinidad and Tobago. (PTI)
In a post on social media platform X, the PM said, “The community programme in Port of Spain was spectacular. The energy and warmth of the people made it truly unforgettable. Evidently, our cultural bonds shine brightly!”
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During his address, PM Modi also asserted that the Indian community members there have contributed to Trinidad and Tobago “culturally, economically and spiritually”.
PM Persad-Bissessar, who also addressed the community before Modi, said that the Indian leader will be conferred Friday with ‘The Order of Trinidad and Tobago’, the Caribbean nation’s highest honour.
(With inputs from PTI and ANI)