T&T PM vows to resolve trade issues

Philip Hamilton, Gleaner Writer

Trinidad & Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has promised to address several trade disputes which have been the source of disquiet between Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago businesses.

Persad-Bissessar, who was the official guest yesterday at a luncheon staged by members of the Jamaican business community at the Terra Nova All-Suite Hotel in St Andrew, told the group every effort was being made to seek amicable solutions between both groups.

The T&T prime minister acknowledged that there have been concerns about a "few perceived issues" impacting on the bilateral commercial relationship between Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago.

She said much of this was on the relative cost of production and cost of inputs in both countries, as well as the administrative systems intended to facilitate the movement of skills throughout the region.

Similar concerns

Persad-Bissessar noted that similar concerns had also been raised by Jamaica's Prime Minister Bruce Golding over the twin-island republic's treatment of Jamaican products there.

"We will assess and reassess and review and where we can find amicable solutions that will endure and enure for the benefit of our people here in Jamaica and in Trinidad and Tobago," the T&T prime minister told members of the Jamaican business community.

Persad-Bissessar said now is not the time for the regional business community to be combative.

"Rather desperately, we need to join forces to impact in a sustainable way on the international scenario, so let us not in some ways concentrate on our differences and engage in warfare in the region," she said.

Persad-Bissessar said in order for Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago to enjoy successful commercial relationships, businesses in both nations needed to implement three major changes.

These involve engaging in innovative improvements to their business, creating alliances between the business communities of both countries and engaging in meetings to discuss ways in which businesses in both countries could establish partnerships.

Persad-Bissessar also noted that trade ministers from both countries had been in discussions concerning the holding of future meetings between business delegations from Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago.