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Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Receive Trinidad and Tobago's Highest Honour Amid Controversy

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The impending visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Trinidad and Tobago, set to take place on Thursday, has sparked debate and controversy. Modi will be the first sitting Indian prime minister to step foot in the country and will be awarded the prestigious Order of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago (ORTT) in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the development of Trinidad and Tobago. The Indo-Trinidadian Hindu population has welcomed the decision, while the country's largest Muslim organisation, the Anjuman Sunnat-ul-Jamaat Association (ASJA), has expressed deep concern over the honour being extended to a leader with a widely criticised human rights record.

Key Takeaways:

  • The honour being bestowed upon Modi is the Order of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago (ORTT), the country's highest award.
  • The ASJA has expressed concern over Modi's human rights record, citing the revocation of Kashmir's special status and the 2002 Gujarat riots, in which over 1,000 people, mostly Muslims, were killed.
  • Modi has received state honours from several Muslim-majority countries, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Egypt.
  • Approximately 35% to 40% of Trinidad and Tobago's population is of Indian descent, making it one of the largest and most prominent Indo-diasporic communities in the Caribbean.
  • Leaders from the Indo-Trinidadian Hindu population have welcomed Modi's visit, with Dr. Devant Maharaj describing him as a "hero" who represents a "karmic realignment" for the Indo-Trinidadian Hindu community.
  • Modi's visit to Trinidad and Tobago is part of a broader diplomatic tour spanning Africa and the Americas, which will also include visits to Argentina, Brazil, and Namibia.

Statistics:

  • Approximately 37,000 indentured workers were brought from India between 1845 and 1917 to work on sugar estates in Trinidad and Tobago.
  • Over 1,000 people, mostly Muslims, were killed during the 2002 Gujarat riots in India.
  • India and Trinidad and Tobago have a diplomatic relationship stretching back decades, anchored in the legacy of Indian indentureship.
  • Modi has received state honours from several Muslim-majority countries, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Egypt.

Sources:

  • "Narendra Modi welcomes 'karmic realignment' during visit to Trinidad and Tobago," The Guardian.
  • "Trinidad and Tobago's highest honour to be bestowed on Narendra Modi, Indian Prime Minister," Port of Spain News.
  • "ASJA expresses deep concern over Modi's human rights record," Anjuman Sunnat-ul-Jamaat Association (ASJA).
  • "India and Trinidad and Tobago strengthen ties, Modi visits Guyana," The Indian Express.

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