Trinidad and Tobago celebrated the 180th anniversary of Indian Arrival Day on Sunday with a vibrant cultural event hosted by the Indian High Commission at Nelson Island. The occasion commemorates the arrival of the first Indian indentured laborers to the Caribbean nation in 1845.

Dignitaries including Speaker of the House Jagdeo Singh, Deputy Speaker Aiyna Ali, cabinet ministers, parliamentarians, mayors, and community leaders attended the event. The Chief Guest was Minister of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs Sean Sobers. Guests were welcomed by Indian High Commissioner Pradeep Rajpurohit and toured historical exhibits on the island.

Indian Arrival Day is observed on May 30, marking the landing of the ship Fatel Razack, which brought 225 Indian workers to then British-ruled Trinidad. A statement from the office of Trinidad and Tobago’s President reflected on the enduring legacy of these pioneers and their significant contributions to national development.

India and Trinidad and Tobago share strong historical and diplomatic ties, having established formal relations in 1962. President Christine Kangaloo, an Indo-Trinidadian, was recently honored with the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award for her contributions to India-Trinidad ties and global Indian diaspora representation.

The Indian community in Trinidad and Tobago, the largest in the Caribbean, continues to thrive in fields ranging from business and medicine to politics and academia, representing a culturally rich and economically influential diaspora.