Trinidad and Tobago will honour Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi with the nation’s highest award, the Order of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago (ORTT), during his official visit from July 3–4. The announcement was made in a statement issued by the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) on July 1.
Modi, 74, who was re-elected for a third consecutive term as Prime Minister of India in 2024, will receive the ORTT on July 4. His two-day visit to Trinidad and Tobago is part of a wider diplomatic tour across five countries, including Ghana, Argentina, Brazil, and Namibia.
According to the OPM, the award recognises Modi’s contributions to strengthening Trinidad and Tobago’s 63-year diplomatic relationship with India “at both the bilateral and multilateral levels.” The statement described the honour as a tribute to Modi’s “outstanding contribution to the development of Trinidad and Tobago, and service to the region and wider international community.”
Modi’s leadership has also been credited with deepening India’s ties with the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). In 2024, three other CARICOM nations — Guyana, Barbados, and Dominica — also honoured Modi with their respective highest national awards.
This marks Modi’s first visit to Trinidad and Tobago since Kamla Persad-Bissessar returned to office as Prime Minister following the April 28 general election. It is expected to include a mix of diplomatic meetings, cultural outreach, and symbolic events.
On July 3, Modi will deliver a keynote address at a Community Diaspora Event at the National Cycling Velodrome in Balmain, Couva. The event is expected to draw thousands, reflecting the strong cultural and ancestral ties between India and Trinidad and Tobago’s large Indo-Trinidadian population.
On July 4, he will meet with President Christine Kangaloo and address a joint sitting of the House of Representatives and Senate at the Red House in Port of Spain. The two countries are also set to exchange several memoranda of understanding (MOUs) and participate in a ceremonial tree planting at the Parliament grounds.
Preparations for the state visit have been underway for weeks. On June 30, Public Utilities Minister Barry Padarath chaired a high-level meeting with government officials and state agencies to coordinate logistics for Modi’s arrival.
Modi’s visit coincides with the July 4 public holiday in the United States, giving many in the diaspora community a long weekend to attend the events, further amplifying the regional significance of his trip.
