PM Modi’s move to deepens Indo-Caribbean ties
- The visit marks the first by an Indian Prime Minister to Trinidad and Tobago since 2009, and signals a reinvigorated focus on engaging with the 35-million-strong Indian diaspora worldwide—not merely as descendants of migrants, but as ambassadors of Indian values and global cooperation
In a landmark move aimed at strengthening ties with the global Indian diaspora, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) cards will now be extended to the sixth generation of Indian-origin people in Trinidad and Tobago. This announcement came during his official visit to the Caribbean nation, which hosts one of the largest Indian-origin populations in the region, making up over 40% of the country’s 1.36 million citizens.
Trinidad and Tobago, the second stop in Modi’s five-nation tour, has deep-rooted historical ties with India, dating back to 1845, when the first indentured Indian laborers—often referred to as “girmitiyas”—arrived on the island. Addressing an enthusiastic Indian diaspora alongside former Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, Modi lauded the community’s evolution from struggle to success.
“You are not just connected by blood or surname. You are connected by belonging. India looks out to you, India welcomes you, and India embraces you,” Modi said, speaking in a mix of Hindi and English.
Former PM Kamla Persad-Bissessar acknowledged India’s pivotal role in supporting Trinidad and Tobago, especially during the Covid-19 crisis, and announced that the Order of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, the nation’s highest civilian honour, will be conferred on Modi
Highlighting the achievements of notable Indo-Trinidadians, including President Christine Carla Kangaloo, cultural icon Sundar Popo, and cricketer Daren Ganga, Modi praised the diaspora’s role in shaping the nation’s identity. He also emphasized the importance of preserving their roots through a comprehensive database of Girmitiya descendants, documenting the villages in India from which their ancestors migrated.
The Indian Prime Minister’s address also spotlighted India’s rapid economic and technological progress. He noted that India is on track to become one of the world’s top three economies and emphasized the strides made in AI, semiconductors, and quantum computing.
He further invited closer trade, security, and technology partnerships, saying,
“Our Mission Manufacturing is turning India into a global production hub. We are now the world’s second-largest mobile phone manufacturer, and our defense exports have increased 20-fold in the past decade.”
On the digital front, Modi celebrated Trinidad and Tobago’s adoption of India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI)—the first country in the Caribbean to do so.
“Sending money will now be as easy as sending a ‘good morning’ message. And I assure you; it will be faster than West Indies bowling,” he quipped, drawing laughter from the audience.
