BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister, the Hon. Kamla Persad-Bissessar says her twin-island republic “is for CARICOM and for regional integration.”
“Let me also indicate that Trinidad and Tobago understands its role in CARICOM and its responsibility to the region and is committed to cooperation,” she said at the working session of the 32nd Regular Meeting of the Conference of Caricom Heads of Government in St Kitts and Nevis.
However, she said while economic co-operation was critical in improving the quality of life for the people, they seemed to have placed over-emphasis on that aspect of co-operation, with a lesser degree of importance placed on other vital areas such as human and social development, health and education.
Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister Hon. Kamla Persad-Bissessar
Mrs. Persad-Bissessar said with this mind set, it conveyed the strong impression that Caricom, as a whole, had not been progressing. She noted that the community needed to inject new life, fresh passion and more intense commitment to a Caricom agenda of locating Caribbean people in the world space.
“I firmly believe that there is need for revolutionary thinking in that regard, because we live in a knowledge century and operate in an interconnected global community … Whilst introspection is good, we must not be hindered by the past and from where we have come and what we have and have not achieved, but concentrate more on a future that is coming at us at the speed of light,” Persad-Bissessar said. She said Caribbean people must be part of this process, as part of the journey would include the reality that they would be expected to take care of themselves, and must make the transition from seeing themselves as dependents and underdeveloped to being independent and behaving with a developed status mentality.
To this end, Persad-Bissessar said it was imperative that young people particularly be invited to be part of the future, as there was an increasing level of youth restlessness throughout the world and the region.
“We must not ignore this phenomenon. This restlessness is a sign of a growing impatience with the ability of governments worldwide to efficiently, effectively and speedily deliver an acceptable quality of life, provide opportunities for employment and the fulfillment of potential and ensure citizen security,” said the Trinidad and Tobago, adding that as a region and as nations in CARICOM, we have to, as a matter of urgency, address this issue. A failure to do so can be disastrous for our economies and for social stability.”
She said as a new Government, the People’s Partnership held firmly to the view that a strong TT was not only beneficial to its own population, but to everyone throughout Caricom. Likewise, a weak TT benefitted no one.
Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister Hon. Kamla Persad-Bissessar and Trade and Industry Minister Hon. Stephen Cadiz (left) at Government House on Saturday night during the 32nd Regular Conference of Caribbean Heads of Government. (Photo by Erasmus Williams)
