Trinidad and Tobago awarded India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi with the nation’s highest civilian honor on Friday, marking the first time a foreign leader has received this distinction. President Christine Carla Kangaloo presented Modi with the Order of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago in a ceremony held at the President’s House in St Ann’s, near the capital Port of Spain.
Modi paid a two-day visit to the dual-island country, a tour aimed at strengthening New Delhi’s ties with the Caribbean and Latin American regions. This trip represented the Indian leader’s first official visit to Trinidad and Tobago since he took office over a decade ago. Noting the significance of this honor, Modi expressed that it symbolizes the enduring friendship between their nations.
India’s relationship with Trinidad and Tobago dates back to 1845, when indentured Indian laborers began working on sugar and cocoa plantations following the abolition of slavery under British colonial rule. With over 140,000 laborers settling in the nation between 1845 and 1917, this shared history has fostered a special connection. Modi highlighted their journey from colonial past to their current statuses as “proud democracies and pillars of strength in the modern world.”
The prime minister’s visit emphasized increasing investments in energy, health, security, and other areas. Trinidadian Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar announced several investments in medical, energy, and technological infrastructures promised by Modi. Describing the visit as marking a new era, Persad-Bissessar indicated that India and Trinidad and Tobago would now work as strategic partners. Additionally, Modi announced that sixth-generation citizens of Indian descent in Trinidad and Tobago would be eligible for the Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cards, allowing them to live and work in India freely.
Modi is also on a five-nation diplomatic tour, including stops in Ghana, Argentina, Brazil, and Namibia. Having arrived in Argentina, he plans to meet with President Javier Milei.
“This honor is a symbol of the deep and eternal friendship between our two countries,” Modi said.
