PRIME Minister Narendra Modi was on Friday conferred with ‘The Order of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago’, becoming the first foreign leader to receive the Caribbean country’s highest civilian honour. This is the 25th international honour bestowed upon PM Modi by a country. In a special ceremony at the President’s House, President Christine Carla Kangaloo conferred upon Prime Minister Modi the highest national award of Trinidad & Tobago for his statesmanship, for championing the priorities of the Global South and for his exceptional contribution to strengthening the relationship between the two countries. Modi, who is on a two-day visit to the Caribbean nation, expressed his gratitude to the Government and the people for being honoured with the highest national award.

 

“I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to you, your government, and the people for honouring me with the highest national award, the ‘Order of the Republic of Trinidad & Tobago’,” Modi said after receiving the award. “This honour is a symbol of the eternal and deep friendship between our two countries. I accept this honour on behalf of 140 crore Indians as a shared pride,” he said as he dedicated the honour to the enduring bonds of friendship between the two countries. Modi said the conferment of this honour on a foreign leader for the first time reflects the deep bilateral ties, which are based on our shared history and cultural heritage. “I also see this honour as a responsibility towards our relations.

 

As a close and trusted partner, we have continued to emphasise skill development and capacity building for the people of Trinidad and Tobago,” the prime minister said. “It is a matter of great pride that the Indian community has preserved our shared traditions, culture, and customs to this day. President Kangaloo Ji and Prime Minister Kamla Ji are the biggest brand ambassadors of this community,” he said. PM Modi underlined that these special ties were based on shared history and cultural heritage forged by Indians who arrived in the country 180 years ago. He affirmed his commitment to further deepening the bilateral partnership between India and Trinidad & Tobago, MEA said in a statement. “Cultural ties between the two countries are visible at every step. President Kangaloo’s ancestors were from the land of Saint Thiruvalluvar, in Tamil Nadu,” he said.

 

“Saint Thiruvalluvar once said that strong nations must possess six qualities — a valiant army, patriotic citizens, abundant resources, good public representatives, strong defence, and loyal allies who always stand by them,” he added. The event was attended by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, members of her Cabinet, Members of Parliament and other dignitaries. Modi said Trinidad and Tobago is not only a CARICOM partner for India but also an important partner globally. Terrorism is enemy of humanity, says PM Modi: TERMING terrorism as the enemy of humanity, Prime Minister Modi on Friday said the global community must stand united to deny it any shelter or space. In his address to the Joint Assembly of Parliament of Trinidad & Tobago, Prime Minister Modi also announced that the Caribbean nation will be a priority nation for India. “Terrorism is the enemy of humanity. This very Red House has itself witnessed the wounds of terror and the loss of innocent blood. We must stand united to deny terrorism any shelter or space,” he said. The Prime Minister thanked the people and the Government of the Caribbean nation for standing with India in its fight against terrorism. Modi said there are new challenges and the old institutions are struggling to deliver peace and progress.

 

“At the same time, the Global South is rising. They wish to see a new and fairer world order,” PM Modi said, pushing for long-pending reforms of the United Nations. Modi said he was humbled to be the first Indian Prime Minister to speak to the people in the iconic Red House, referring to the Parliament of Trinidad & Tobago. For New India, even sky is not the limit: PM Modi: INDIA will soon be among the top three economies of the world, and its missions on artificial intelligence, semiconductor and quantum computing are becoming the new engines of growth, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said. In an address at a gathering of the Indian diaspora on Thursday, Modi said India is a land of opportunities today, and the fruits of its growth and progress are reaching the “most needy”. “For New India, even the sky is not the limit.” Modi attended the event hours after landing in Trinidad and Tobago in the second leg of his five-nation tour.In his remarks, Modi lavished praise on the Indian community in Trinidad and Tobago, and said: “They left their soil, but not their soul.”