By Faith Edwards

INDIA Prime Minister  Narendra Modi extends congratulations to Prime Minister-elect Kamla Persad-Bissessar on her victory following the 2025 general election in Trinidad and Tobago on Monday.

In a message posted Tuesday morning on his social media X, Modi said there were deep-rooted and familial ties between the two nations.

“Heartiest congratulations @MPKamla on your victory in the elections,” Modi wrote.

“We cherish our historically close and familial ties with Trinidad and Tobago. I look forward to working closely with you to further strengthen our partnership for shared prosperity and well-being of our people,” he said.

Persad-Bissessar, 73, and her United National Congress (UNC), in alliance with the Coalition of Interests, won a majority in the 41-seat Parliament after the elections on Monday.

The relationship between India and Trinidad and Tobago dates back to May 30, 1845, when the ship Fatel Razack brought 225 Indian indentured laborers to Trinidad. Today, their descendants make up nearly 42% of the population, significantly influencing the nation’s cultural, political, and economic landscape.

Formal diplomatic relations were established in 1962, the year Trinidad and Tobago gained independence. Over the years, the two countries have signed multiple bilateral agreements, including those on cultural cooperation and investment protection. Notably, Persad-Bissessar paid a state visit to India in January 2012, during which she was honored with the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award.