Three Caribbean Community (CARICOM) nationals, including Guyana’s President, Dr. irfaan Ali, will be awarded the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award (PBSA), the highest honor conferred on overseas Indians, the Indian High Commission has announced.
It said apart from Ali, the other awardees are Trinidad and Tobago judge, Justice Frank Arthur Seepersad and Suriname’s Dr. Dewanchandrebhose Sharman.
Ali will receive the award for politics and community welfare, while Seepersad’s contribution to community welfare and education, and Sharman’s contribution to community welfare are also being recognized.
The three Caribbean nationals will join 24 other persons of Indian origin or non-resident Indians who have been recognized by the Indian government for their outstanding achievements both in India and abroad.
The 17th PBSA will be conferred by the president of India as part of the upcoming Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) Convention (Indian Diaspora Day) to be held in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, January 8-10.
The award will be conferred during the valedictory session of the convention on January 10, and the Indian High Commission statement said President Ali has been invited as the “Chief Guest” for the convention and will be travelling to India with a high-level delegation comprising both official and private sector representatives.
Apart from the Caribbean nationals, India is also bestowing the award on persons based in the United States, Brazil, Australia, Ethiopia, Germany, Israel, Japan, Poland, the Republic of Congo, Singapore, South Africa, South Sudan, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and Uzbekistan.
India’s High Commissioner to Guyana, Dr. K J Srinivasa said the award to President Ali is a recognition of the outstanding contributions he has made to Guyana and his efforts to bring about the rapid and equitable development of the country.
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