Following is the statement of Smt. Chandresh Kumari Katoch, Union Culture Minister at the joint press meet with Lincoln Douglas Minister of Arts and Multiculturalism Government of Trinidad and Tobago at Port of Spain. The meeting took place on 1st November, 2013.
“I am indeed delighted to be in your beautiful country. I thank you for receiving me and the excellent arrangements made for my visit. Our two countries have a long history of diplomatic relations and my visit should enable enhancement of the cultural ties and people to people relationships between our two countries.
I have had the opportunity to visit Tobago yesterday and the visit was culturally enriching and I had a feeling of deep satisfaction after meeting so many of your country men. I have had a long and intimate relationship with your country since the late 1970s when my brother Shri Gaj Singh Jodhpur was high commissioner of India to Trinidad and Tobago.
During this visit I have had cordial and constructive discussions with the President of Trinidad and Tobago, the Foreign Minister, the Minister of Arts and Multiculturalism. In the evening I will be visiting Divali Nagar to participate in the Dipavali celebrations and will be meeting the Prime Minister on the sidelines.
Diplomatic relations between India and Trinidad have been cordial and constructive. In the UPA government several high level visits have been exchanged between our two countries. The Prime Minister of India Dr. Manmohan Singh ji visited Trinidad in 2009 for the CHOGM summit and the Prime Minister of Trinidad Smt. Kamla Prasad Bissesar visited India in 2012 for bilateral meeting leading a 160 member delegation. There have been several ministerial level exchanges in recent years.
India Trinidad cultural relations are symbolized in the cultural agreement signed between our two countries in 1987. In pursuance of the cultural agreement, a cultural exchange program for 2012-14 was signed in January 2012. The main features of the cultural exchange program are:
a. exchange of exhibitions
b. exchange of performing artists
c. exchange of cultural anthropologists
d. exchange of cultural delegations
e. encourage signing of long term cultural agreements between institutions
f. exchange of radio and TV programs and documentaries
g. organize festivals of feature and documentary films
Under the cultural exchange program the Indian science exhibition was inaugurated in may 2012 by the secretary culture. The national council of science museum (NCSM) has signed an MoU with National Institute of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology (NIHERST), T&T as part of the cultural exchange between India and Trinidad and Tobago. India had also proposed to convene a festival of India in October 2013 but the dates could not be firmed up.
Our two countries have celebrated 50 years of diplomatic relations between India and Trinidad and Tobago from August 24 to 31, 2012. various events like the visit of Trinidad and Tobago band ‘Dil e Nadan’ in Delhi and visit of Trinidad and Tobago carnival costumes designer to India for designing various costumes for events including the Surajkund Mela which was organized in February 2013 have taken place.
Following my discussions with the authorities of Trinidad and Tobago the roadmap for enhanced cooperation has been identified as follows:
a) A new cultural agreement between the two countries will be formulated to replace the 1987 agreement so that the agreement can best capture the modern developments in the culture sector;
b) The cultural exchange program for 2014-16 will be formulated based on the cultural agreement that will be developed in the coming days;
c) An invitation has been extended to minister Mr. Lincoln Douglas to visit India along with a delegation of performing arts to discuss the contours of collaboration and sign the agreement at a mutually convenient date;
d) The festival of India in Trinidad and Tobago which could not be held in October 2013 will now be held in October 2014 under the new cultural agreement;
e) Collaboration will be extended to Trinidad and Tobago authorities for setting up a sugar museum in Port of Spain;
f) Assistance will also be extended to the Trinidad and Tobago authorities for collaboration in archives maintenance;
g) I will be taking up the request of the authorities of Trinidad and Tobago for collaboration in film development with the ministry of information and broadcasting and the construction of a cultural center inDivali Nagar with the ministry of external affairs.
I bring to you the good wishes of millions of Indians on the festive occasion of Dipavali.”
