Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar is the guest of honour Sunday of the Federation of Indian Associations (FIA) in New York city and will take part in a huge parade organised by the FIA to celebrate the 63rd anniversiary of India's independence from India. She will join Indian move star Priety Zinta, who is the Grand Marshall of the 2010 parade.
The FIA is one of the largest Indian organisations outside India and represents businesspeople and influential community leaders.
The group is honouring Persad-Bissessar for her rise to the highest elected office in Trinidad and Tobago from humble beginnings. Her grandparents went to Trinidad as indentured labourers to work on sugar plantations. And like the thousands of others who experienced the slave-like conditions, they sought to educate their children instead of condemning them to a life of servitude in the plantations.
During the May 24, 2010 general election campaign in Trinidad and Tobago former Prime Minister Patrick Manning said Persad-Bissessar was not fit to lead the country because she was born in rurual Trinidad.
She replied that she was proud to be from among the people and added that the experience of living among them makes her understand their needs.
The government of Trinidad and Tobago expects that contact with leaders of FIA will lead to business and investment in Trinidad and Tobago.
Sunday's parade will be followed by a dinner and gala reception and awards ceremony at which Persad-Bissessar will be honoured.
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