By Sue-Ann Wayow

PRIME Minister of India Narendra Modi has officially received Trinidad and Tobago highest national award.

Modi was conferred the Order of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago (ORTT) on Friday during a ceremony at the President’s House in St Ann’s.

He was conferred the award by President Christine Kangaloo who acted on advice of Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and her Cabinet.

The ORTT is the 25th state award to be received by Modi. It is the first time, a foreign leader is being conferred the award.

After receiving the award, Modi gave  remarks speaking entirely in his native tongue through a translator.

He said, “I express my heartfelt gratitude to you, your government and the people of Trinidad and Tobago for conferring upon me, your nation’s highest honour, the Order of the Trinidad and Tobago. This honour is a symbol of the deep and eternal friendship between our two countries. I accept this award on behalf of the people of India as it is a matter of collective pride for all 1.4 billion Indians.”

Modi said the award to him was a reflection of the exceptional depth of relationship between India and Trinidad and Tobago with a shared history and cultural heritage, remembering the first time East Indians came to Trinidad centuries ago.

“Though their hands were empty, their hearts were full, enriched with the values, traditions, cultural diversity of the Indian civilisation,” he said.

Modi said the ancestors sowed harmony and goodwill which helped to blossom the progress and prosperity of Trinidad and Tobago.

“It is a matter of great pride that the Indian community here continues to preserve our shared traditions, culture and customs with such care and devotion. President Kangaloo-ji and Prime Minister Kamla-ji are the biggest brand ambassadors of this community,” he said.

Calling Trinidad and Tobago a friend, Modi said, “Our relationship carries the excitement of cricket and the flavour of Trinidad pepper.”

He said, “When the rhythms of the calypso meets the beats of the tabla, our relationship becomes an exquisite symphony, the deep cultural connects between our two peoples is one of the greatest strength of our partnership.”

About the ORTT, Modi said it also signified a further responsibility to strengthen relationships as India has always focused on capacity building and skill development for Trinidad and Tobago.

He said Trinidad and Tobago was not just an important partner in the Caribbean Community (Caricom) but also a vital global partner.

“Our partnership holds great significance for the entire global south,” Modi said.

The Office of the President via media release on Thursday had stated that the president was deeply honoured to present the prestigious award to Modi, who has been internationally recognised for his distinguished leadership and service.

He has received numerous accolades and several international and regional awards, including the most recent, Ghana’s highest national award – the Order of the Star of Ghana just before his arrival in Trinidad and Tobago on Thursday.

In January 2025, Kangaloo was the recipient of the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award (PBSA)—the highest honour conferred by the  India on persons of Indian origin and non-nationals—in recognition of her exceptional contributions to public life.

The award was officially presented to Kangaloo by  High Commissioner of India to Trinidad and Tobago Dr Pradeep Rajpurohit, during the celebration of India’s 76th Republic Day on January 26  in Trinidad and Tobago.

The release stated, “As a symbol of the growing partnership and mutual respect between the two nations, Her Excellency will adorn both the PBSA and the ORTT during the ceremony on July 4, 2025.”

Kangaloo was clad in the two medals when she presented the ORTT to Modi.

In her address, she said she was supposed to go to India in January but circumstances did not permit.

Stepping away from the formalities, the president admitted that she was carrying a serious “tabanca” over not being able to make that journey and had an underlying sadness which left upon Modi’s arrival on Thursday.

She said the award was bestowed for the tremendous work with Trinidad and Tobago over the years and for the kindness and generousity shown not just to this country but to the region as well.

“Your kindness and generousity to the people of Trinidad and Tobago are legendary,” Kangaloo said also mentioning the donation of 40,000 doses of the Covid-19 vaccines back in April, 2021.

Persad-Bissessar sat next to Kangaloo, her husband Kerwyn Garcia and Chief Justice Ivor Archie during the ceremony.

The ORTT can be awarded to any person, citizen and non-citizen “who has rendered distinguished and outstanding service to Trinidad and Tobago” read the President’s Aide de Camp Major Nigel Parris.

He said the award was being given to Modi “in the sphere of statesmanship, bilateral and diplomatic relations.”

Rajiv Ramkissoon, a pupil of Shiva Boy’s Hindu College read Modi’s biography to the audience.

Modi, serving his third term as India’ prime minister and leads the  Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). It is the leading party of the National Democratic Alliance, He is the longest-serving prime minister outside the Indian National Congress, a party once led by Mahatma Gandhi.