“It is the right time and the right place for Trinidad and Tobago to change our paradigms when it comes to our sovereign interests.”
Those were the words of Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar as she defended Trinidad and Tobago’s sovereign right to support the United States in Caribbean waters.
Speaking ahead of her trip to the United Nations General Assembly on Thursday, she addressed concerns about CARICOM unity and foreign military presence in the region.
“At this time, our willingness in accepting the US in the waters of the SouthCom, in the Southern Caribbean, in the international waters, I’m very happy about that. That is my sovereign right for the people of Trinidad and Tobago. Remember, many of the other CARICOM nations do not have the carnage we have here. We had over 600 murders in this tiny island state in one year. We have the narco-trafficking, the human trafficking, and many other ills that come from the criminality. Many of those CARICOM nations do not face a similar thing. So whilst we have the unity in CARICOM, every nation-state in the CARICOM is free to exercise their sovereign rights as they think best.”
Despite the stance, the Prime Minister reaffirmed her commitment to CARICOM, saying that unity remains vital.
“We’ll be united and do better. But where it is that this threat, this narco threat and criminal threat, Trinidad and Tobago is the most hit, we are the most blasted, and we are the most suffering when it comes to that. We can’t do the same things we’ve been doing for 20 years and expect it to change.”
Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar made it clear that this country simply doesn’t have the resources to fight crime alone.
“So this is a game changer, in a sense, having help from others who are larger than we are. They have the resources. We don’t have the resources. We don’t have the resources. We have not had them for the past umpteenth years, where the crime has run away. We have to do things differently. So to my CARICOM partners or cousins, brothers, sisters in the CARICOM, we love them. We are committed to the CARICOM. So nothing I’m saying is against the CARICOM. It has to do, as I say, with, first of all, looking after the safety and security of the people of Trinidad and Tobago.”
The Prime Minister was also asked by reporters if there was any possibility of a meeting with US President Donald Trump at the UN General Assembly.
“So far that is not on the agenda, but if it happens, I’m sure we’ll welcome it. We do intend to meet some US officials. As I say, those are being finalised with the Minister of Foreign Affairs at this time.”
The Prime Minister will lead a delegation to New York for the UN General Assembly on Thursday.