Narendra Modi Expands India-Caribbean Bond with Symbolic Gifts

Port of Spain, 4 July 2025:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi honored the long standing diaspora connection and fortified bilateral ties on the second day of his historic visit to Trinidad and Tobago. He held formal meetings with President Christine Carla Kangaloo and Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bisssar, whom he lovingly called “Bihar Ki Beti” due to her Buxar ancestry, to strengthen collaboration in the fields of energy, healthcare, digital finance, and technology. Along with a meticulously detailed model of India's Ram Mandir, Modi presented two highly symbolic gifts: water from the holy Saryu River and the Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj. "These symbolize our connection to the diaspora on a spiritual and cultural level," he stated. They are "deeply meaningful tokens of our shared heritage," according to Persad Bisssar.

In recognition of the long-lasting Indian influence in the nation, Persad Bissessar personally greeted Modi at the airport earlier with a ceremonial guard of honor and a Bhojpuri Chautaal dance. Later, Modi spoke to more than 4,000 Indian community members at Couva's National Cycling Velodrome. "You left the banks of the Ganga and Yamuna, but you brought the Ramayana in your hearts," he said, expressing his admiration for the diaspora. A historic declaration further reaffirmed Modi's commitment to an inclusive diaspora policy by extending the eligibility for Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) to fifth and sixth generation Indians living in Trinidad and Tobago.

The leaders' discussions also highlighted the Caribbean country's progress in implementing India's Unified Payments Interface (UPI). Transactions will soon be as easy as "sending a message," according to Modi, who praised the rollout. Speaking at the event, Persad Bissessar called Modi a "transformational force." She highlighted the recently signed Memorandums of Understanding for cooperation in the fields of energy, health, digital frameworks, and disaster resilience. She also referred to India's vaccination assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic as a "act of shared humanity and love."

Modi's engagements in Trinidad represent a major expansion of India-CARICOM diplomacy ahead of his departure for Argentina to attend the BRICS Summit. Despite local civil society groups' concerns about his human rights record, his actions, the diaspora outreach, temple replica, and spiritual water, are seen as representative of deeper cultural diplomacy. 

A larger strategic shift towards South-South alliances, support for the diaspora, and incorporating Indian cultural themes into international diplomacy is reflected in India's growing involvement in the Caribbean.