India’s Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has revealed that Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cards will now be extended to the sixth generation of Indian-origin individuals in Trinidad and Tobago.
Speaking during his address to hundreds at the National Cycling Velodrome in Couva, he said it is a move aimed at strengthening people-to-people ties and preserving cultural identity.
“Today, I am happy to announce that OCI cards will now be given to the sixth generation of the Indian diaspora in Trinidad and Tobago. We are not just connected by blood or surname. You are connected by belonging. India looks out for you. India welcomes you. And India embraces you.”
He praised Trinidad and Tobago for being the first country in the region to adopt India’s digital payment platform, UPI, making a light comment about its speed.
“India’s Unified Payments Interface or UPI has revolutionised digital payments. Nearly 50% of the world’s real-time digital transactions take place in India. 50%! I congratulate Trinidad and Tobago for being the first country in the region to adopt UPI. Now, sending money will be as easy as sending a good morning text message. And I promise it will be faster than West Indies bowling.”
Prime Minister Modi highlighted the impact of several Trinidad and Tobago citizens including Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar as the first female Prime Minister, President Christine Kangaloo, as the first female President of East Indian descent, and the late former Prime Minister Basdeo Panday, the first Prime Minister of East Indian descent.
He continued: “Math scholar Rudranath Capildeo, music icon Sundar Popo, cricketing talent Darren Ganga, and Sewdass Sadhu, whose devotion built the temple in the sea. The list of achievers goes on… You are defined by your success, your service, and your values. Honestly, there must be something magical in the doubles and dhalpuri because you have doubled the success of this great nation. Friends, when I last visited 25 years ago, we all admired the cover drives and pull shorts of Lara. Today, it is Sunil Narine and Nicholas Pooran who ignite the same excitement in the hearts of our youth. Between then and now, our friendship has grown even stronger.”