Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, SC, has praised India’s Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, for his compassion and heartfelt outreach to the people of the diaspora.
Speaking at a Community Diaspora event at the National Cycling Velodrome in Couva on Thursday evening, shortly after PM Modi’s arrival in T&T, Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar reflected on his inspirational, visionary leadership and “enduring commitment to the Indian diaspora, promoting culture, history, and the spirit of our shared journey.”
The Prime Minister also reflected on India’s ongoing support over the years, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Under your leadership, India has extended its hand to the world, but never more so, through your compassion, through your benevolence, with the Vaccines Initiative four years ago. When COVID-19 pandemic brought the world to its knees, while some other countries were hoarding medical supplies, you, sir, you ensured that vaccines and supplies reached even the smallest nations, including Trinidad and Tobago. Through your benevolence, you brought hope and calm where there was fear. I say again, this was more than diplomacy. This was an act of kinship. This was an act of shared humanity. This was an act of love. And this is one of the many reasons we are deeply proud to bestow upon you, Excellency, the Order of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.”
Mrs. Persad-Bissessar praised Prime Minister Modi, calling him a transformational force who positioned India as a “prominent and dominant global power.”
“Through your visionary and futuristic initiatives, you have modernised the Indian economy. You have empowered over a billion citizens, and above all, you have instilled pride in the hearts of all Indians all over the world. And yet it is not only your governance, sir, but it is your reverence for heritage that has brought us together tonight.”
Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar said Trinidad and Tobago looks forward to continuing a harmonious relationship with India “as partners, as brother and sister, and as proud children of a most enduring heritage in history.”