Prime Minister Narendra Modi conferred with Trinidad and Tobago's highest civilian honour

Why in news?

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been conferred with 'The Order of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago'.

Key Points:

• 'The Order of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago' is the highest national award of Trinidad and Tobago.
• This honour was conferred on Prime Minister Narendra Modi by Trinidad and Tobago President Christine Kangaloo at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in Port of Spain.
• Prime Minister Modi addressed a joint session of the Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago, where he highlighted historical and cultural ties.
• The Prime Minister announced that:
• Now the sixth generation of Indian-origin citizens living in Trinidad and Tobago will also get Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card.
• Benefits:
  • They will be allowed to live, work and invest in India without any special visa.
  • This will infuse new energy in cultural and economic ties between India and the overseas Indian community.
• PM Modi congratulated Trinidad and Tobago on adopting UPI (Unified Payments Interface).
  • The country has become the first country in the Caribbean region to adopt UPI.

India-Trinidad and Tobago Relations:

• India and Trinidad have historical ties dating back to 1845, when Indian indentured labourers arrived there.
• About 37% of Trinidad's total population is of Indian origin.
• Diplomatic relations were established between the two countries in 1962 and India opened a High Commission there.
• Indian festivals like Holi, Diwali, Ramlila are celebrated there on a large scale.
• India exports medicines, rice, auto parts etc. to Trinidad.
• Both countries work together on forums like United Nations, Commonwealth and NAM.

Trinidad and Tobago:

• Trinidad and Tobago is an island country located in the Caribbean Sea, whose capital is Port of Spain.
• This country is made up of two main islands Trinidad and Tobago.
• It got independence from Britain on 31 August 1962 and became a republic.