GOPIO 25th anniversary convention being held in TnT

The Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO International) is holding a Jubilee Convention to mark its 25th anniversary in Port of Spain, Trinidad from today.{{more}}

The convention, which ends on May 29, precedes the annual Indian Arrival Day commemoration in that country on 30 May.

The theme of the convention will be “The Indian Diaspora Today and Tomorrow.”

Over the three-day period the conference will be addressed by distinguished speakers on several issues such as : Indian Diaspora Today and Tomorrow; Global and Regional Diaspora Investments & Economic Opportunities; Diaspora’s Youth, Children, Gender & Inter-Generational Issues; Multi-Cultural Diversity & Inter-Ethnic Cooperation in the Indian Diaspora; Education, Science & Technology as Significant Assets in the Indian Diaspora; Health, Wellness, Lifestyle and Nutritional Factors in the Indian Diaspora.

A major component of the Jubilee Convention will be the recognition of persons who have made substantial contribution in various fields such as Youth, Women, Legacy (Oldest NRI, PIO), Writers, Academia, Culture and Religion, Politics, Business Philanthropy, Sports, Human Rights Advocacy, Film & Documentary, Medical, Legal, Science and Technology, Media, Posthumous, and Friends of the Diaspora.

GOPIO is a non-partisan, non-sectarian global organization formed in 1989 and has chapters in several countries, actively promoting the interests of people of Indian origin worldwide by monitoring and addressing current critical issues of concern, and by enhancing cooperation and communication between groups of Indians living in various countries. The GOPIO International Trinidad & Tobago Chapter will be the Convention host, along with a convention team which includes GOPIO’s regional and international chapters, executives, councils and life members, as well as businesses, government, organizations and academic supporters. Dr Arnold Thomas is currently the GOPIO International coordinator for the Caribbean region, as well as the convention’s Grand Convener.

GOPIO has held and collaborated on several major conferences in the Caribbean region: Trinidad & Tobago (2011); St Vincent (2012); Suriname (2013); Guyana’s 175th Indian Arrival Day Commemoration (2013); and Belize (2014). However, this will be the first time that the GOPIO Convention will be held in the Caribbean. Minister Vayalar Ravi (India’s Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs) visited St Vincent in 2007.