In a significant diplomatic development, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address a joint session of Trinidad and Tobago’s Parliament during his official visit to the Caribbean nation on July 3-4, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced on Monday. This will be the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Trinidad and Tobago since 1999.
The visit comes as part of PM Modi’s five-nation tour starting July 2, which includes stops in Brazil, Ghana, Trinidad and Tobago, Argentina, and Namibia. His first stop will be Ghana, followed by a two-day stay in Trinidad and Tobago.
Secretary (South) in the MEA, Neena Malhotra, described the upcoming address to the Parliament as a “special gesture,” underscoring the deep democratic ties between India and the twin-island nation. She noted that the speaker’s chair in Trinidad and Tobago’s Parliament, gifted by India in 1968, remains a strong symbol of the countries’ shared democratic heritage. The chair bears the inscription: “From the People of India to the People of Trinidad and Tobago.”
“This visit is especially significant as Trinidad and Tobago is celebrating 180 years since the arrival of Indian immigrants,” Malhotra said. “This shared heritage is the foundation of our longstanding people-to-people ties.”
During his stay, Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to hold bilateral talks with Trinidad and Tobago’s President Christine Carla Kangaloo and Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar. Both leaders are of Indian descent, and Malhotra highlighted this as a unique feature of the current political leadership in the Caribbean country.
“This visit will give new momentum to our historical relationship and strengthen cooperation in various sectors,” Malhotra added.
Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita, who visited Trinidad and Tobago in August 2024, had earlier posted about the speaker’s chair during his visit, calling it a testament to “our historical relations and deep-rooted people-to-people ties.”
Prime Minister Modi’s upcoming address to Parliament will serve as a reaffirmation of India’s commitment to strengthening its ties with the Global South, especially with countries that share a rich history of cultural and diasporic linkages with India.
