Remarks by EAM Dr. S. Jaishankar at Nelson Island, Trinidad and Tobago (May 09, 2026)

Namaste, Sita Ram & a very Good Morning to all of you!!

Prime Minister, Foreign Minister, other Ministers, Friends, Colleagues,

It is indeed a great pleasure to be here today at the historic Nelson Island, and it is here that the first step in the history of India and Trinidad and Tobago was taken a 180 years ago. Coming here, it is only natural that our thoughts turn to how those courageous people must have faced their very difficult circumstances and built new lives. Today we salute their fortitude, their determination and their resolve.

2. Friends, these immigrants carried their way of life, traditions and faith with them, indeed, as we heard, they carry with them an entire civilization. It is only fitting that these are recorded for posterity as a heritage site.

3. Today, I am very glad to join the launch of a Quick Impact Project for the upgradation of cultural heritage on the Nelson Island with grant assistance from India. This includes a memorial monument, creating a digital hub of historical data of the national archive and setting up a digital audio-visual experience. As those who visit this beautiful country seek to understand and appreciate its past, I am confident that this project would help in that exercise.

4. In India, Prime Minister, attaches a high importance to creating a database of the Girmitya community and conducting research on this legacy. On Prime Minister Narendra Modi's directions, we are working to create a dedicated Girmitya Studies Centre. I am glad that an MoU for Cooperation between the National Archives of India and of Trinidad and Tobago was signed yesterday. I am hopeful that this would help many of the people here in tracing their ancestral roots and reconnecting with their families in India.

5. Prime Minister Modi Ji, during his visit, had announced the issuance of Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) Cards up to the 6th generation. I understand that the number of OCI applications received by the High Commission are growing, and it will be our endeavour to facilitate others who may not necessarily have the access to the required paperwork.

6. So, I take this opportunity to extend my greetings on the occasion of the upcoming Indian Arrival Day. As we reflect on this anniversary, we honour the resilience and enduring spirit of our ancestors who journeyed across the seas and built lives in this distant land.

7. Let us pledge to carry forward the legacy of these ancestors with pride and determination. Let us continue to celebrate our shared heritage, to teach our children the stories of our past, and to contribute positively to the society we live in.

Thank You very much!

Port of Spain
May 09, 2026