EAM Jaishankar Meets Brian Lara During Caribbean Tour
Meeting with Brian Lara
On Friday, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met the iconic West Indies cricketer Brian Lara in Trinidad and Tobago, marking the conclusion of his three-nation tour in the Caribbean. He shared a post on social media featuring photos with Lara, stating, "With the one and only @BrianLara." Lara is celebrated as one of the greatest batsmen in cricket history, often mentioned alongside legends like Sachin Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting, and Jacques Kallis. Over his impressive 17-year international career, he accumulated 11,953 runs in 131 Test matches at an average of 52.89 and scored 10,405 runs in 299 One Day Internationals.
Diplomatic Engagements and Agreements
During his visit, Jaishankar also held discussions with Trinidad and Tobago's Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar. Together, they presented Made-in-India laptops to local school children and finalized several agreements aimed at enhancing bilateral relations. The agreements cover various sectors, including tourism, renewable energy, development cooperation, and traditional medicine.
Jaishankar expressed his appreciation for the meeting, stating, "Such a pleasure to meet with PM Kamla Persad-Bissessar. I value her guidance on bilateral cooperation and insights on regional issues." He also thanked the Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago for their warm reception.
Flag-Raising Ceremony
The minister was honored at a flag-raising ceremony organized by the Ministry of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs of Trinidad and Tobago, where he was joined by Brian Lara. Jaishankar remarked, "Honoured by the flag-raising ceremony at the Ministry of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs of Trinidad and Tobago. Thank you, Brian Lara, for joining us."
Final Leg of the Caribbean Tour
Jaishankar's arrival in Trinidad and Tobago marked the last stop of his Caribbean tour, which included visits to Jamaica and Suriname. He expressed his happiness to be back in Trinidad and Tobago, thanking Foreign Minister Sean Sobers for the warm welcome. He stated, "Pleasure to be back in Trinidad and Tobago. Look forward to a productive visit over the next two days."
His high-level engagements in Jamaica and Suriname took place from May 2 to 7, highlighting India's commitment to strengthening ties with these nations.