Prime Minister Narendra Modi was conferred with “The Order of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago,” the country’s highest civilian award on Friday. President Christine Kangaloo presented the award, marking the first time a foreign leader has received the honor. This recognition underscores the strong diplomatic ties between the two countries.
PM Modi expressed his gratitude for the award, stating that he received it with “collective pride.” He highlighted the strong friendship and shared cultural heritage between India and Trinidad and Tobago.
“This award reflects the eternal and deep friendship between our countries. I accept this honour as a collective pride on behalf of 140 crore people of India. To confer this award upon the first foreign leader reflects our deep relationship, which is based on common history and culture,” PM Modi said.
PM Modi emphasized the shared history and cultural connections. He noted President Kangaloo’s ancestral roots in Tamil Nadu and the teachings of Saint Thiruvalluvar. He also highlighted the strong cultural connections shared by the two nations, referring to cricket and the spice of pepper.
President Kangaloo expressed her pleasure in presenting the award and acknowledged PM Modi’s generosity towards Trinidad and Tobago. She noted that India provided 40,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines during the pandemic, strengthening the relationship.