Port of Spain – Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) facilitated the Petro Caribe arrangement between Venezuela and other Caricom countries for them to enjoy the benefits of favorable payment terms for petroleum products from Venezuela, according to Prime Minister Patrick Manning.
Mr. Manning said T&T was voluntarily giving up Common External Tariff (CET) protection for the regional refining industry in order to facilitate Petro Caribe. He was speaking at the joint press conference with Jamaican Prime Minister, Portia Simpson –Miller, following bilateral talks between Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica at Whitehall on Tuesday April 25.
The bilateral discussion was the first item on the program for the official visit of the Jamaican Prime Minister to Trinidad and Tobago.
Mrs. Simpson –Miller was welcomed by a military parade and gun salute on her arrival at Piarco International Airport on Monday, April 24.
She said Trinidad and Tobago agreed to a long term arrangement to supply gas to Jamaica which agreed to invest in an Aluminium Smelter project proposed for Trinidad. Gas supply options for Jamaica included compressed natural gas and liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the LNG Train 4 or LNG Train X plants. The supply of gas should begin in 2009 under “Most Favoured Nation” payment terms.
Other items on Mrs. Simpson- Miller’s itinerary include a children’s rally at the Jean Pierre Complex / Hasely Crawford Stadium, luncheon at the Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturers’ Association Headquarters and a State Banquet at President’s House.
