Government Begins Process to Rename Nelson Island

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar says the Government will begin the process of renaming Nelson Island, with a committee expected to be established to oversee the initiative.

Speaking during a visit to the island on Saturday, the Prime Minister said members of the public would have the opportunity to submit suggestions for the new name through a dedicated website that will be launched for the process.

India’s Minister of External Affairs, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, also participated in the visit and said the Memorandum of Understanding signed between India and the National Trust of Trinidad and Tobago is intended to help members of the Indian diaspora in Trinidad and Tobago trace their ancestral roots and reconnect with relatives in India.

Nelson Island served as a depot for indentured labourers arriving in Trinidad, functioning as a screening and processing point before many were transported to estates across the country.

Dr Jaishankar described the island as a deeply significant heritage site, noting that it played a major role in shaping the historic relationship between India and Trinidad and Tobago.

The diplomatic visit, which began on Friday, has focused on strengthening economic, cultural and diplomatic ties between both countries.

On Friday, Dr Jaishankar paid a courtesy call at Parliament where discussions centred on bilateral cooperation and shared priorities between the two nations. Several Memoranda of Understanding were also signed, including agreements involving Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar.

Saturday’s visit to Nelson Island included a plaque unveiling ceremony recognising the historical importance of the site and its connection to the Indian community in Trinidad and Tobago.

Following the ceremony, the Indian Minister and the Prime Minister were expected to attend several additional engagements, including a ribbon cutting ceremony at the NAMDEVCO Agro Processing Site in Couva.

The visit is scheduled to conclude on Saturday evening with a reception and interaction with members of the Indian community, bringing an end to a packed diplomatic schedule aimed at deepening the longstanding ties between India and Trinidad and Tobago.