Port-of-Spain, Jan 27 (IANS) Trinidad and Tobago’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Surujattan Rambachan admired ‘India’s fine democratic traditions and economic achievements’ during India’s 62nd Republic Day celebration held here.
Rambachan hailed India’s human rights record and said during the celebrations at the high commissioner’s residence Wednesday that Trinidad and Tobago and India’s have shared commitment to human rights, good governance and the rule of law, stable democracy and competitive business practices.
‘Opportunities exist in the spheres of culture, education, industrail and scientific and technical co-operation. I am sure that the founding fathers of India will be proud of the great strides it has made, and its continuing ability to meet the challenges of the 21st century,’ said Rambachan.
He added: ‘We in Trinidad and Tobago have always admired India’s fine democratic traditions and economic achievements. We hope to continue our excellent relationships with the various international fora, and to continue to partner with India towards our mutual benefit and prosperity.’
Indian High Commissioner Malay Mishra spoke of India’s social and economic revolution which puts India in an enviable global position.
Rambachan said that both countries share similar colonial and post-colonial experiences, and have been members of the Non-Aligned Movement, the Commonwealth of Nations and the UN.
‘I am proud to acknowledge India as a major player on the world’s stage, and it continues to play a prominent role in international affairs commensurate with its geographic size, large population, strategic location and its industrial, scientific, technological, military and nuclear might.
‘We must all agree that India has done a splendid job to the rest of the world regarding economic development within a complex democratic framework. I must say, that with some degree of awe, that India’s meteoric rise in the last 10 to 15 years has simply stunned the world,’ said the Trinidad and Tobago minister.
The Indian diaspora in Trinidad and Tobago equals 44 percent of the population of 1.3 million people. Some 147,000 Indians came here between 1845 and 1917 to work on the sugar plantations, principally from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
