Communications Minister Dr Sururattan Rambachan on Friday the Government of India covered the cost of the official Trinidad & Tobago delegation that visited the country.
"The cost of the Prime Minister's official delegation was paid for by the Government of India. In addition, the Indian Government provided an Airbus 8320 for the delegation's internal travel," said Rambachan, who is also the Foreign Minister.
In his lengthy statement, Rambachan gave a detailed breakdown of the visit.
He said the Prime Minister and her official delegation, accompanied by members of the private sector, also attended the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, which is a gathering of India's Diaspora community.
He explained that Persad-Bissessar used the opportunity to engage in discussion. This is part of the government's strategy to create a sustainable economy with long term jobs and income for the country, he said.
Rambachan added, "Pravasi Bharatiya Divas is co-sponsored by the Confederation of Indian Industries with whom business exchanges took place in Delhi, Hyderabad and Mumbai.
In his lengthy statement, Rambachan gave a detailed breakdown of the visit.
He said the Prime Minister and her official delegation, accompanied by members of the private sector, also attended the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, which is a gathering of India's Diaspora community.
He explained that Persad-Bissessar used the opportunity to engage in discussion. This is part of the government's strategy to create a sustainable economy with long term jobs and income for the country, he said.
Rambachan added, "Pravasi Bharatiya Divas is co-sponsored by the Confederation of Indian Industries with whom business exchanges took place in Delhi, Hyderabad and Mumbai.
"So the perception that the Pravasi is merely a cultural affair is misconceived and the propaganda related to this is purely political mischief in a sensitive political culture that is Trinidad and Tobago."
Rambachan also slammed critics and suggested that they are not informed about what has been happening.
"A lot of criticism, a lot of commentaries are written, but how many of those commentators have viable alternatives to present? A criticism, a commentary is as effective and valuable as the quality of the alternative presented to the Government," he told legislators.
He also made the point that in order to make money you first invest money. However he said in case of the just concluded visit the investment came from the Indian government. He also confirmed that MOUs were signed with 4 major companies.
Rambachan also defended the Prime Minister's visit to her ancestral village in Bihar, the home province of most of the indentured immigrants who came to Trinidad in the post slavery period to work on the plantations.
Rambachan also slammed critics and suggested that they are not informed about what has been happening.
"A lot of criticism, a lot of commentaries are written, but how many of those commentators have viable alternatives to present? A criticism, a commentary is as effective and valuable as the quality of the alternative presented to the Government," he told legislators.
He also made the point that in order to make money you first invest money. However he said in case of the just concluded visit the investment came from the Indian government. He also confirmed that MOUs were signed with 4 major companies.
Rambachan also defended the Prime Minister's visit to her ancestral village in Bihar, the home province of most of the indentured immigrants who came to Trinidad in the post slavery period to work on the plantations.
He said those who criticised the visit have demonstrated no appreciation for history.
"May I genuinely ask: what is wrong with a person finding out from whence he or she came? Finding one's ancestry does not make one less Trinidadian or less nationalistic. The Prime Minister has consistently stood up first and foremost as a citizen of Trinidad and Tobago," the minister said.
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