Barry Shiva Padarth: The Rising young Indian Diaspora leader in the Caribbean Region
NEW YORK (TIP): Last month’s historic visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s to Trinidad & Tobago gave a new impetus to the age-old people-to-people ties between the two countries. PM Modi received an unprecedented welcome from the newly-elected Government of Prime Minister Mrs Kamla Persad-Bissessar and people of Trinidad & Tobago.
During the visit, one young leader stood out prominently by the side of Prime Minister Mrs Kamla Persad-Bissessar.
That leader is Mr. Barry Shiva Padarath, Trinidad and Tobago’s youngest Leader of Government Business, Minister of Public Utilities and Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister, a rising star in the Indo-Trinidadian community and a key figure in national politics. Serving as a close associate of Mrs. Bissessar, Mr. Padarath played a pivotal role as the chief coordinator of Prime Minister Modi’s entire visit, managing both diplomatic and cultural engagements with exceptional precision.
His visible presence throughout the high-profile events and his instrumental role in shaping the visit’s success have cemented his position as one of the most promising young leaders in Trinidad and Tobago’s political landscape.
Minister Barry Padarath stood shoulder to shoulder with Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar to receive Prime Minister Modi upon his arrival at the Piarco International Airport. From the very outset, his role was central—not only logistically, but symbolically.
Prosthetic Limb Camp in Trinidad & Tobago
PM Modi made several announcements during his visit to Trinidad & Tobago, including a Prosthetic Limb Camp for the disabled persons. The Limb Camp is scheduled to be organized by Bhagwan Mahaveer Viklang Sahayata Samiti (BMVSS) for 800 persons in early October for which Dr B. R. Mehta, the Founder of BMVSS along with Mr Prem Bhadari, a New York-based businessman and Chairman of Jaipur Foot USA, will be visiting Trinidad. Mr Bhandari has visited Trinidad twice in the last one year and had meetings with Minister of Health, Minister of Finance and other dignitaries.
BMVSS has received tremendous support from Minister Barry Shiva Padarth in organizing the Limb Camp which is likely to be inaugurated by PM Mrs Persad-Bissessar. Mr Bhandari has offered to host the T&T delegation led by their PM in New York next month where a sizeable T&T diaspora is based.
Cultural Nostalgia during the Visit of PM Modi
As the chief cultural coordinator, Minister Padarath personally curated key traditional elements that welcomed PM Modi at multiple locations. One such memorable moment was the Chowtal performance, a spirited and devotional folk tradition deeply rooted in the Indo-Trinidadian community. Minister Padarath took the opportunity to explain its historical and emotional significance to Prime Minister Modi, emphasizing its connection to the 19th-century Indian indentured immigrants who brought their heritage across oceans to the Caribbean.
Reflecting on the significance of the visit, Minister Padarath remarked,
“This is not just a diplomatic mission — it is a cultural homecoming. We are honouring our roots while building our future with India.”
His thoughtful leadership and deep cultural awareness brought a uniquely emotional and historical dimension to PM Modi’s first official visit to Trinidad & Tobago—transforming it from a state visit into a celebration of shared identity and enduring bonds.
Mr. Barry Padarath is a third-term Member of Parliament representing the Couva South constituency, which he won by a wide margin in the general elections held on April 28. Notably, he was among the few leaders who chose to take his oath of office on the Srimad Bhagavad Gita when sworn in as Minister.
Today, Minister Padarath is a well-respected figure in regional and international politics and a proud voice of the global Indian diaspora who has blended formal diplomacy with rich Indo-Trinidadian cultural traditions. Minister Padarth has visited India several times in the past.
When PM Modi addressed the Joint Assembly of the Parliament of Trinidad & Tobago, Minister Padarath, along with PM Kamla Persad-Bissessar, led official tributes that reflected on shared democratic values and historical bonds between India and Trinidad and Tobago. Subsequently, PM Modi presented a signed copy of his greeting to Minister Padarth and PM Kamla Persad-Bissessar.
Path Forward: Renewed Ties and Regional Engagement
Observers believe the visit sets the stage for enhanced collaboration between India and Trinidad and Tobago across multiple sectors — including education, technology, green energy, diaspora affairs, and cultural exchange.
“This visit affirms that the Indo-Trinidadian identity is not a story of the past, but a living, evolving narrative,” said Minister Padarath. “We are building bridges — spiritual, cultural, and diplomatic — that will endure for generations.”
Future is bright for the bilateral ties between India and Trinidad& Tobago with young diaspora leaders like Barry Shiva Padarth gaining prominence in the T&T politics.
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