Kamla: No more T&T godfather

(Trinidad Guardian) - Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has put Caricom states on notice of a possible shift in policy regarding Petroleum Fund assistance for neighbouring islands. She has also called for the 37-year-old regional Caricom movement to undergo critical self-examination before it takes a backward step.

Persad-Bissessar, speaking at the opening of the 31st Caricom summit in Montego Bay, Jamaica on Sunday, also signalled that T&T’s role as godfather to the region may undergo some changes in other areas, including the sharing of radar and security vessels with southern states and assistance with the CL Financial issue. On whether T&T would continue to be the “godfather of the region” as it had been under the previous PNM administration which initiated the Petroleum Fund, Persad-Bissessar told reporters that T&T could not help people by perpetuating dependencies.

“T&T will not shirk in its responsibilities, but we must be conscious of the present fiscal deficit in T&T and the global crisis and balance it with what we can give and keep that in mind what we cannot give…But this must result in a lifting—it must not be handouts,” she said. Persad-Bissessar was the newest addition to the four Caricom heads who delivered addresses at the Half Moon Village in Rose Hall on Jamaica’s Montego Bay coastline. Also speaking were Jamaican Prime Minister and incoming Caricom chairman Bruce Golding, St Kitts Prime Minister Dr Denzil Douglas and outgoing Caricom chairman, Dominican leader Roosevelt Skerrit.

Summit guests included United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon,  Organisation of American States Secretary General Jose Miguel Insulza and IMF managing director Dominique Stauss-Kahn.

The regional conference got off the ground as Jamaica attempts to settle down, after last month’s spate of killings; a state of emergency had ensued as the authorities sought Jamaican “don” Christopher “Dudus” Coke, who was wanted by the US on gun and drug trafficking charges.

Persad-Bissessar is chairing Caricom’s National Security (illicit drugs and arms) committee meetings, an integral part of the agenda.

The UN, IMF and OAS heads will also hold discussions with leaders on the impact on Caricom states, the international financial scenario and progress made in dealing with this. Addressing guests, Persad-Bissessar said the conference was being hosted against the backdrop of change in T&T, as well as within and outside the region. “Mr Chairman, the change in government which occurred in T&T will lead to certain shifts in the policy direction of my country,” she said. “However, I wish to assure you that T&T’s posture in relation to the Caribbean Community remains unchanged. My Government stands committed to the ideals of widening and deepening of the regional integration process within the Caribbean Community.”

Persad-Bissessar said Caricom in its 37th year was confronted by new critical challenges that call for urgent responses. “The time has come for us to re-examine whether the dynamism and versatility of the external environment has impacted on our ability to chart a clear and consolidated pathway to regional development,” she said. “Today the Caribbean Community seems destined to take a backward step in addressing the issue of an adequate institutional structure to implement the idea of ‘Caricom as a community for all.’” Persad-Bissessar. She also said that in the Caribbean, guaranteeing public safety could not be confined to military and police action.

The acquisition of the offshore patrol vessels which were to assist neighbouring islands, as well as T&T, is being reviewed, Persad-Bissessar said on Sunday. “We are having serious problems with the OPVs, they are nowhere ready; money is being paid and the delivery dates keep going forward,” she said. “The Attorney General and National Security Minister will be giving us a report. So the arrangement (to help Caricom states) is in the air not because of T&T but because of the ones preparing the vessels to be sent to T&T.” Persad-Bissessar also said she was not of the view that the levels of accountability and transparency regarding disbursement of the Petroleum Fund for Caricom states were the best in the circumstances.

She said she would raise this at this week’s Caricom working sessions. She also said T&T would have to examine its financial situation before making any commitments about assisting other states on the CL Financial issue. She also said there was the perception by many that the regional grouping was not meeting its objectives and goals.

Persad-Bissessar said she also intended to raise at the Caricom table what the region hoped to achieve from the arrangement and examination of the governance structure. “We need to get new arrangements,” she added. She said she would be visiting the UWI campus and meeting with the Jamaican business community during her state visit to Jamaica on Thursday.