On Friday September 17, 2021, Minister of National Security, Fitzgerald Hinds, met with Regional Representative of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) for the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), Barbados, Guyana, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, and the Bahamas, Mr. Clinton White.
Mr. White was introduced to the Minister by Charge d’Affaires of the Embassy of the United States of America in Trinidad and Tobago, Mr. Shante Moore.
USAID Regional Representative Mr. White presented the areas of priority for USAID in Trinidad and Tobago. Some of these priorities included support for the national response to trafficking in persons; climate change, including disaster resilience and relief; as well as ongoing collaborative COVID-19 mitigation efforts.
Minister Hinds extended his gratitude to USAID and the Embassy of the United States of America for their continued support in the areas of national security and indicated that he looks forward to ongoing fruitful engagements.
The meeting took place at the Ministry of National Security Head Office, Abercromby Street, Port of Spain. Also in attendance were Permanent Secretary (Ag.) of the Ministry of National Security Mr. Gary Joseph; Deputy Director, International Affairs Unit, Ministry of National Security Major (Ret’d) Richard Lynch; USAID Senior Development Advisor Mr. Phillip Schwehm; USAID ESC Regional Office Programme Management Specialist (Rule of Law) Ms. Sharon Ramsaran; and Political and Economic Chief of the Embassy of the United States of America Ms. Valerie Laboy.
USAID’s work in the Eastern and Southern Caribbean (ESC) region directly supports United States foreign policy priorities to fortify efforts to stem crime and violence, to promote sustainable development growth programs, and to build resilience to natural disasters and climate change.
