“Trinidad and Tobago and India enjoy an enduring relationship, based on fraternal ties, which supports our continuing bilateral cooperation and collaboration in multilateral fora in areas of mutual interest.”
Trinidad and Tobago is often labelled as the ‘Gateway to the Caribbean’. How do you place your country in the larger Caribbean community?
Trinidad and Tobago is a multi-ethnic and multi-cultural country in the southern Caribbean located off the coast of South America. Our geographical location, transportation linkages, and access to global markets provides easy access for the movement of people and trade to the Caribbean, South America, the United States, Canada and beyond. This is supported by our diverse and educated people, political and social stability, open investment climate, and low cost of doing business.
2023 marked an important milestone, as CARICOM celebrated the 50th anniversary of its establishment. How do you look back at this achievement?
Trinidad and Tobago is a founding member of CARICOM and our regional integration movement in the Caribbean. It has facilitated our growth and development as Small Island developing states through functional cooperation in areas of mutual interest, the coordination of our foreign policy, security collaboration, and economic integration, which allows us to pool our resources in the region to pursue common interests for our collective benefit. It has enabled us to build solidarity within the region, in the face of common challenges, based on an understanding that our integration is vital for our survival and continuing development as small island developing states. The Government and people of Trinidad and Tobago were pleased to host the 50th Anniversary celebration of our regional family.
India and Trinidad and Tobago share close cultural and bilateral ties dating back to the 19th century. How has this bilateral partnership evolved over the time?
The Indian presence in Trinidad and Tobago began in May, 1845, when persons from India first arrived in Trinidad and Tobago as indentured labourers during the British colonial period. Their influence on the development of Trinidad and Tobago laid a strong foundation on which Trinidad and Tobago has built a close and long-standing bilateral relationship with India. India was one of the first countries to establish diplomatic relations with a newly independent Trinidad and Tobago in 1962, which followed the establishment in Trinidad and Tobago of an Office of Commissioner by India shortly after it achieved its independence in 1948. Trinidad and Tobago sees India as an important partner in the Global South and in multilateral fora.
With a view to strengthen India-CARICOM bilateral relations Indian PM Narendra Modi met CARICOM leaders at the first India-CARICOM Summit in 2019. How has bilateral cooperation evolved since then?
Since the Summit, we have had greater opportunities for political exchanges. I have had the opportunity to engage with Dr. the Honourable S. Jaishankar, Minister of External Affairs of India, on multiple occasions in the last few years and we are both committed to enhancing the relationship between our two countries and, by extension, CARICOM’s relationship with India. I was pleased to host the Honourable Shri Pabitra Margherita, Minister of State for External Affairs of India, on his visit to Trinidad and Tobago on 23 August 2024 as part of his first official travel since his appointment in June 2024.
India has been at the forefront of providing developmental assistance and aid to CARICOM community. What are some of key areas of potential collaboration between India and Trinidad and Tobago and other Caribbean nations?
India is a leader in many areas of interest for CARICOM such as Information and Communication Technology, healthcare and pharmaceuticals, agriculture, human resource development and renewable energy. There is potential for collaboration with India in these areas which will assist CARICOM’s efforts in capacity building and economic development and can also serve to build resilience against economic shocks, climate change and threats to national/regional security.
Trinidad and Tobago is pursuing enhanced cooperation with India in the area of healthcare and pharmaceuticals, agriculture, and Information and Communication Technology in support of Trinidad and Tobago’s Digital Transformation agenda. Prime Minister Rowley paid a visit to Mumbai in May 2024 to enhance our cooperation in sports, trade, and investment which I look forward to advancing in the future.
India has sought to provide assistance to Trinidad and Tobago through multiple diplomatic channels such as Indian Council for Cultural Relations providing scholarships to cultural exchange programmes etc. How do you look upon these initiatives?
These initiatives are excellent avenues for people-to-people exchanges between Trinidad and Tobago and India and serve as important opportunities for persons from both countries to have a greater understanding of each other. Over the years, nationals of Trinidad and Tobago have taken up scholarships offered by the Government of India in Hindi and Dance and programmes, such as the Know India Programme, provides for nationals of Trinidad and Tobago to visit and experience India. The Gen-Next Democracy Programme has also been useful in promoting a greater understanding of India among Members of Parliament in Trinidad and Tobago by making possible a visit to India in May 2023, by Members of Parliament from both sides of the aisle, where they learned about India’s political system, history and culture.
We have also been fortunate to receive many dance and musical troupes from India which regularly visit Trinidad and Tobago to give performances to local audiences. In addition, the Mahatma Gandhi Institute for Cultural Cooperation (MGICC), which falls under the purview of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations, also plays a significant role in promoting Indian culture in Trinidad and Tobago.
Trinidad and Tobago has been home to a vibrant Indian community with strong national presence in various social and cultural aspects of the country. How does this Indian diaspora play a role in deepening of bilateral ties?
The presence of an Indian diaspora in Trinidad and Tobago provides a strong foundation on which Trinidad and Tobago has built a close and long-standing relationship with India. The sense of history, culture, and kinship felt by the Indian diaspora in Trinidad and Tobago with India, as well as the contribution of the Indian diaspora to the culture and society of Trinidad and Tobago, provide a fertile environment for our engagement with India.
Would you like to give any message to our Envoy Excellency readers?
Trinidad and Tobago and India enjoy an enduring relationship, based on fraternal ties, which supports our continuing bilateral cooperation and collaboration in multilateral fora in areas of mutual interest. As we in Trinidad and Tobago celebrate the 62nd anniversary of our Independence from the United Kingdom on 31 August, I take this opportunity to congratulate the Government and People of the Republic of India on its 78th Independence Day.