CARICOM nationals to be awarded India’s highest honour for overseas Indians

By Sherrica Thompson

Staff Writer

#Guyana, January 15, 2023 – The President of Guyana, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, is among three CARICOM nationals to be bestowed the highest honour conferred on overseas Indians, the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award for 2023.

The other two awardees are Justice Frank Arthur Seepersad of Trinidad & Tobago and Dr. Dewanchandrebhose Sharman of Suriname.

The three CARICOM nationals join 24 other persons of Indian origin/non-resident Indians who have been recognized by the Government of India for their outstanding achievements both in India and abroad.

President Ali will be awarded for his role in politics and community welfare, Seepersad for his contribution to community welfare and education and Sharman for his contribution to community welfare.

The 17th PBSA will be conferred by the Honourable President of India as part of the upcoming Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) Convention (Indian Diaspora Day) to be held in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, from 8-10 January 2023.

The award will be conferred during the valedictory session of the Convention on 10 January 2023.  President Ali has been invited as the Chief Guest for the upcoming PBD Convention and will be travelling to India with a high-level delegation comprising both official and private sector representatives.

In addition to the CARICOM nationals, India is also bestowing the award on persons from the United States, Brazil, Australia, Ethiopia, Germany, Israel, Japan, Poland, the Republic of Congo,  Singapore, South Africa, South Sudan, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, the United Arab Emirates,  the United Kingdom, and Uzbekistan.