By Paras Ramoutar, IANS,
Port-of-Spain: Trinidad and Tobago has invited India to invest in the country, saying that the Caribbean nation is a fertile market as it provides a gateway to Latin America.
“T&T is not just a market, it is a fertile spot for investment and it is a gateway to Latin America. India has a lot to offer,” said Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister Lenny Saith.
He said that the recent Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) held here Nov 27 – 29, 2009 had “raised T&T’s profile in the world” and also hailed the new dynamism in relations between New Delhi and Port of Spain.
The Indian delegation to the CHOGM was represented by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
Saith underscored this point at a reception hosted by Indian High Commissioner Malay Mishra at his residence here Friday night. The reception was held in honour of Saith for being one of the 14 international recipients of the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman in New Delhi last month.
“This is not an exclusive award for me. It is for the people of Trinidad and Tobago. It is an honour to receive it,” Saith told a gathering, which included President George Maxwell Richards and his wife Jean Ramjohn Richards.
Others at the function included Caribbean Airlines chairman Arthur Lok Jack; AnsaMcL Group chairman Norman Sabga; Minister of Trade Mariano Browne; Minister of Information Neil Parsanlal; former Public Service Commission chairman Ken Lalla and Minister of Social Development Amery Browne.
Speaking on the occasion, the Indian high commissioner said: “We meet here to celebrate the bestowment of Indian honour to Saith as a respected member of the Indian diaspora. Saith continues to serve T&T with distinction and selflessness.”
Saith’s forefathers were among the 148,000 Indians who were brought here between 1845 and 1917 to work on sugar and cocoa plantations.
(Paras Ramoutar can be contacted at [email protected])