Trinidadian P.M. talks oil, corruption and football
This afternoon, Belize welcomed Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Patrick Manning, and CARICOM secretary general Edwin Carrington. The delegation arrived in Belize at one and during a working luncheon, the dignitaries held official talks with Belize’s Prime Minister Said Musa and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Eamon Courtenay. During a press briefing following the closed door meetings, Courtenay explained what was on the discussion table.
Eamon Courtenay, Minister of Foreign Affairs
?The purpose for the visit was firstly for Prime Minister Manning to brief Prime Minister Musa on the successes and issues that he has raised during his term as chairman of CARICOM. We also took an opportunity during the visit to get an update from Prime Minister Manning as well as Secretary General Carrington and the reintegration of Haiti into CARICOM. He came directly from Jamaica where he was briefed by former Prime Minister P.J. Patterson on the latest position there. We also took an opportunity to discuss with Prime Minister Manning and the Secretary General the issue of Belize-Guatemala, other issues of human trafficking, and the agenda for the upcoming Heads of Government.?
Regarding the progress of the Caribbean Single Market and Economy implemented in January, Secretary General of CARICOM Edwin Carrington told the press that there are a few wrinkles to iron out.
Edwin Carrington, Secretary General, CARICOM
?Namely, the regional development fund, which was central. That is just about being completed in the sense of agreement on the shares and contribution. Then we have to move on assuming that that goes smoothly when the Heads meet in the beginning of July. We will be meeting even before that on certain important steps on the single economy. There are four consultations that are taking place to begin to prepare the foundation for the single economy. One took place in Montego Bay on the eighteenth of May, that is monetary cooperation. On the twenty-eighth, twenty-seventh and twenty-ninth, and thirtieth of June in Barbados we are going to have three more: one on production integration, another on policy organisation, and a third on institutional strengthening and capacity building. We then go to the Heads with the results of those. Depending on what emerges from that then we will take the next step, so we are along the road. There is still a long way to go but it?s encouraging at this moment in time.?
Janelle Chanona
?Feedback has been good??
Edwin Carrington
?So far a very important feedback was at the meeting with the private sector on the tenth of June, because the private sector is going to have a much more important role in the single economy than they would have had in the single market. And that meeting last week was very good in Barbados, and you might have seen the news that Prime Minister Arthur is coming to the edge to seek certain adjustments in the treaty to accommodate the private sector, so we are underway but have a long way yet to go.?
It might not have been on the official agenda but given Belize’s recent oil discovery and the fact that Trinidad is one of the oldest gas and oil producing islands in the region, this afternoon Manning spoke of his country’s experience with the issues in the industry.
Patrick Manning, Prime Minister of Trinidad
?Trinidad and Tobago is not a significant oil producer, we are a gas producer, that?s the first thing. The second thing is that we have had experience over time in seeking to modernize the Government?s take. Following the events of 1973, there was a movement around the world for greater control of these resources because these resources belong to the people of the particular country. What eventually emerges is this, that the resources belong to the country, the oil companies are given the right to exploit the resources on the basis of some sort of spilt. In Trinidad and Tobago we?re going in production sharing contract route and that itself is mutating into new arrangements. In fact right now, there are some new concessions to be given out and there is a new form of production sharing contract that?s being put in place. The system is being modernized all the time to get a more equitable spilt as between the host country and the oil companies that have the right to produce the oil to whom that right has been accorded. In the case of Belize, Belize is at a different stage from Trinidad and Tobago. Belize is new and it is most unlikely that Belize could put in place or ought to put in place the kind of regime that Trinidad and Tobago has. Belize is much more a virgin exploration territory than is Trinidad and Tobago. We?ve been an oil province for a long time. The first barrel of oil was produced in our country in 1866. And therefore you have a long history of oil production. It is not so in Belize. Belize is now starting up and therefore there are different risks, different considerations but even so oil prices today are seventy dollars a barrel plus and Belize will certainly be in a position to benefit from high oil prices. In fact, I think Belize is extremely fortunate to have discovered oil at this time.?
According to Belize’s Prime Minister, the legislation on petroleum presented to the House of Representatives on Monday was derived mainly from the advice and technical expertise of Trinidadian expert, Dr. Cleavon Lewis.
And while Belmopan can benefit from Trinidad’s experience in the petroleum industry, of late the island nation has also had to deal with unprecedented levels of white and blue collar crime. In response to numerous murders, kidnappings and drug related violence, Trinidad has responded with an elaborate radar system, armed helicopters, imported law enforcement officials and even a blimp … reactions that appear well out of Belize’s reach. But this afternoon, Manning also expressed an uncompromising position on political corruption.
Patrick Manning, Prime Minister of Trinidad
?In terms of the crime situation, the blue collar crime we have made significant strides. Of course the murder rate in Trinidad and Tobago is still unacceptably high, the levels of security need to be improved. And we are taking steps to improve all of that, but we are convinced, we are very confident that the measures that have now been put in place will bear fruit in the not too distant future and the country will return to acceptable levels of security.?
?In Trinidad and Tobago at this time there are six ministers of the former government that are before the courts on matters of this nature. There are two ministers from my own government who are before the courts. A Chief Justice?a process under the constitution has been invoked to investigation allegations against a chief justice and the process is underway, in fact it has been invoked twice and we are taking all other reasonable steps to ensure that all is well. A former prime minister as you know has been brought before the courts and the court has already judicated on the matter. He has in fact been given a prison term and he has been given bail based on his medical condition, but that he no longer participates in the parliament because of the laws of our country. And so the government is exerting a serious effort to ensure that the public life of the country is conducted on the basis of the highest standards of integrity.?
On the issue of the decision of the United States to list Belize as a tier three country in the fight against human trafficking, this afternoon Prime Minister Said Musa asserted that every step will be made to deal with the issue but admits that the rating could translate into serious consequences for Belize.
Prime Minister Said Musa
?We are not denying that we have a problem. What we are saying is that judgements can be made at different levels. We would much prefer to see this kind of assessment done in a multi-lateral fashion. I think this is why we are going to discuss it at our next Heads of Government meeting.?
?It?s a serious matter that we are taking very seriously. As I mentioned earlier, we are going to do our best to work to meet this plan of action within the next sixty days. Whether it?s related to this issue as you raised, as I said earlier I don?t believe it?s a coincidence that these matters are coming up at this time. Belize?s position on the Security Council issue is very clear. We have this problem in which Guatemala is claming our country. I think for any government to expect us to lobby support for that country, it?s asking the impossible of Belize and no government I think can respond to that in a favourable light. We would like to see, obviously, relations improve significantly with our neighbour. Guatemala is not going to go away. We are working fastidiously in fact to try and resolve our problem with Guatemala and one of the areas we feel that we can see that they can show good faith that they too want to resolve this is for them to act on what has been agreed upon; that they would take steps to remove this illegal settlement of Santa Rosa in the Toledo district.?
The next meeting of the Heads of Government of CARICOM is scheduled to take place July third to the sixth in St. Kitts and Nevis.
And on a subject that is very dear to Prime Minister Manning’s heart, this afternoon he also commented on his country’s
“Soca Warriors” and their progress at the FIFA World Cup football tournament in Germany. The Trinidadian team first match up was against Sweden and ended in a tie. But on Thursday, the Warriors battle with England ended in a two goal defeat … but apparently, the first goal of that game is the subject of much debate.
Prime Minister Patrick Manning
?There was a foul associated with the goal, there was … You saw it? Well the referee didn?t see it.? (audience laughs)
?I?d just like to thank the government and people of Belize for your support of the Soca Warriors. That support is well appreciated by the government and people of Trinidad and Tobago. Thank you very much.?
Manning, Carrington and the rest of their delegation left Belize immediately following this afternoon’s press briefing by private plane.
