Indians in Trinidad and Tobago hail Modi's victory

The victory of the BJP, led by Narendra Modi, in the Indian election has been hailed by a large section of the people of Trinidad and Tobago where the Indian diaspora accounts for nearly 40 percent of its 1.3 million population of the twin islands.

Since Thursday hundreds of ethnic Indians, both from the diaspora and Indians who have recently settled here, have been switching TV channels to keep themselves updated on the results. The country kept well-informed on the election through the press and social media.

Scores of Indians, who are here on work permits, have endorsed Modi's win as a "new direction" for India's progress and development.

The Indian diaspora here was originally sourced from India, principally Uttar Pradesh and Bihar between 1845 and 1917, when over 1,48,000 Indians came to enhance the country's agricultural capacity.

Trinidad and Tobago's Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Dookeran told the media that Modi's victory was the "beginning of another chapter in Indian democracy and economic progress".

"In terms of our relationship, I know this will not mean any fundamental departures, and therefore an intensity of our relationship should emerge," said the international economist who visited India several times and was guest lecturer at the Jawaharlal Nehru University.

"I am sure both the countries would work together to construct a new architecture for a peaceful stable and economically progressive world," Dookeran said.

Religious leaders said Modi visited Trinidad and Tobago in 2000 to attend the World Hindu Conference at the University of the West Indies here. Modi's victory signalled that the Gandhi and Nehru dynasties were fading, said Andy Knight, director, Institute of International Relations, University of the West Indies, St. Augustine.

(Paras Ramoutar can be contacted at paras_ramoutar@yahoo.com)