Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached Trinidad and Tobago for a two-day visit on Friday and said the journey of the Indian community in the country was one of courage. The prime minister will be presented with 'The Order of Trinidad and Tobago', the Caribbean nation's highest honour, during his first official visit to the country.
Addressing the Indian diaspora after arriving in Port of Spain, Modi said it felt completely natural, as "we are part of one family". "I know the story 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," Modi said.
Modi said the children of Girmitiyas are no longer defined by their struggles but by their "success, service and values." Girmitiyas were indentured labourers from British India transported to work on plantations in Fiji, South Africa, Eastern Africa (namely Mauritius, Seychelles, Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda), Malaysia, Singapore, and the Caribbean as part of the Indian indenture system.
The Caribbean country has a population of 13 lakh, and 45 per cent of them are of Indian origin.
The prime minister said his government has announced several initiatives to connect with the global Girmitiya community. "We are actively working on creating a comprehensive database of the Girmitiya community. Documenting the villages and cities in India from which their ancestors migrated, identifying the places where they have settled, studying and preserving the legacy of the Girmitiya ancestors, and working to organise World Girmitiya Conferences regularly," Modi added.
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Modi also announced OCI cards will be given to the sixth generation of the Indian diaspora in Trinidad and Tobago. Talking about Indian space missions, Modi said India is working on a manned space mission, Gaganyaan, and "the time is not far when an Indian will walk on the moon and India will have its own space station".
Modi presented his counterpart, Kamla Persad-Bissessar, with a replica of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. He urged the Indian diaspora to visit India and said, "Bring anyone who enjoys chai and a good story. We will welcome you all – with open arms, warm hearts, and jalebi!"
The prime minister is expected to address a joint session of the Trinidad and Tobago Parliament during the visit.
