Friday, February 2, 2018 – The Second Secretary of the High Commission of India, Trinidad and Tobago, Aniruddha Das arrived on Montserrat on Thursday 1st February, for a five-day courtesy and familiarisation visit to the island.
The purpose of Mr. Das’ visit is to meet and hold discussions with Government of Montserrat officials and to make the necessary arrangements for the High Commissioner of India, Trinidad and Tobago, to visit Montserrat in the near future.
Since his arrival, Mr. Das has paid courtesy calls to H.E. Governor, Andrew Pearce; the Honourable Premier, Donaldson Romeo; the Honourable Minister of Education, Health and Social Services, Delmaude Ryan; the Honourable Minister of Communications, Works, Labour and Energy, Paul Lewis and the Honourable Leader of the Opposition, Easton Taylor-Farrell.
The Second Secretary of the High Commission of India to Trinidad and Tobago said, “I am here to renew our contacts with the Government of Montserrat and one of the purposes of my trip here, is to pave the way for the visit of our High Commissioner who will come to Montserrat very soon”.
Mr. Das will also meet with the Indian community on island to get an understanding of what they expect from the High Commission of India in Trinidad and Tobago.
During his courtesy call to the Office of the Premier, the Honourable Premier, Donaldson Romeo welcomed Mr. Das to Montserrat and held discussions with him about the island and the Indian Scholarship Programme, which a number of Montserratians have benefitted from, over the years. They discussed providing the Government of Montserrat with a listing of courses being offered, for a decision on priority areas for training in India.
Premier Romeo thanked Mr. Das for the contribution that the programme has had on Montserrat, and noted that the island and the people of Montserrat have benefitted from the work produced by individuals who have acquired skills from courses in India.
Mr. Das said he is keen for persons from Montserrat to take advantage of the courses. He explained that the two types of programmes are the ‘Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation Scheme (ITEC)’ and the ‘Know India Program’. Mr. Das is encouraging persons to visit the website www.hcipos.in for more details on the programmes.
As it relates to the administrative support needed for the upcoming plans and programmes, the Second Secretary to the High Commission of India also met and held discussions with the Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Premier, Daphne Cassell.
Mr. Das is expected to leave the island on Monday, February 5, 2018.