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Your say: TT and that oil money | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
It started with comments made by Trinidad and Tobago's new Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar at the Caribbean Community Summit in Jamaica earlier this month. "We cannot continue that Trinidad and Tobago is like an ATM (cash dispenser) card," Mrs Persad-Bissessar said in Montego Bay. "One of my officers said to me that Trinidad and Tobago is seen like an ATM card...you come in with the card and you come back out with cash. "It cannot happen anymore. It just cannot happen." Now, Trinidad and Tobago's new Opposition Leader Keith Rowley says that Trinidadian jobs could be in jeopardy because of the PM's comments. Dr Rowley said that the ‘flippant’ manner in which it’s been said could lead to T&T products being boycotted across the Caribbean. A Jamaica Observer poll this week found that just over 45 per cent of respondents found Kamla's "ATM" comments "an honest wake up call for Caricom", 44 per cent found the comments "arrogant", and ten per cent thought them "a rookie mistake by an inexperienced politician". This debate has now closed. Thank you for your comments SO WHAT DID YOU SAY?
There is absolutely nothing wrong with what the Prime Minister said. She is quite right. It is time for the Caribbean Community to wake up. When Trinidad loaned out millions during the 60's and 70's and entered hard times in the 80's and 90's, where was the money? Very little, if any, was paid back. I agree Trinidad needs to help its neighbors, but there needs to be much more accountability. It is about time the TnT government pay attention to the needs of the poor people of Trinidad and Tobago, cause they need help now. Later the prime minister will assist other countries of the Caribbean, when and if needed. You all sound like poor babies. Under the Manning regime, he was playing godfather of the Caribbean, hosting two billion dollar world summits, when thousands of Trinidadians were suffering. We may have money, but we are still a third world island that is in desperate need in human and country development. We give, but what exactly can the rest of Caricom give us back in return? Bananas? Discounted Hotel Prices? DRUGS? Trinidadians need to see about Trinidad FIRST. THEN when we are secure we can play godfather. We have our own problems. Solve your own! Very regrettable statements from a PM of Caricom (rookie or not). She got spiritual and morale support from fellow Caricom citizens outside of TT in a quest for leadership and this is how we are being repaid! Manning was upset when those of us went to ALBA/Venezuela/Cuba for assistance. There are already signs of blatant arrogance rapidly developing within her administration - apparently not limited only to Mr. Manning! I cannot believe that the "former progressive-thinking Black Power leaders" both within her administration and the rest of TT would be comfortable with her statements. Remarks like these give the overzealous immigration officers at air/sea ports to act discriminatingly to fellow Caricom citizens!! I am also disappointed that she has unequivocally rejected the proposed union with the OECS. Madame PM, do not think Manning, think Caribbean Unity!!! To those of you who think that the TT PM is in any way right, wake up. OECS works better than Caricom because we are truly united neighbours. We have our problems but we are more connected. Caricom continues in spite of the misplaced sentiments and perspectives from Jamiaca and Trinidad about what really drives regionalism. I firmly believe we are better off without the condescending remarks, and narrow-minded view points of the 'giants' among us. We do not need any of you. We choose to be in this relationship. There are always other options, and last time I checked we did not get this far with TT money or aid. The TT PM is not just arrogant, but ignorant of the nature of partnerships. I really wish we would show them just how far OECS can go because Caricom continues to be a battleground for power between Jamaica and Trinidad. We in the OECS can surely do without that!! The new PM may have been tactless in her remarks, but we are living in a globalised world, so how is Caricom negotiating their expansion? Ouch Mrs. Bissesar!! You make it seem as if your country did not get any prime assets for the money paid. Let's look at JA; Air Jam, Carib Cement, Union Bank etc. Trinidad has assets that will add value for their future generation at the expense of Jamaican locals who cannot effectively compete because of Trinidad's cheap oil. Now we Jamaicans must face being ridiculed in this gross manner. Well Mrs. Bissessar, with all due respect this is where I pick up my scissors and cut my card in two...no longer will I support Trinidad's products/services. I hope this makes you and your countrymen feel better, but no prob right ....you have oil!!! Trinidad's manufacturing capacity far surpass its 1.3M population. The region is a market for substandard goods whilst it develops quality products for high priced markets. The dynamics of a developing economy is not as simple as we hear about from illiterate politicians. Trinidad and the sub-region are economically linked and Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar cannot get away from it. She can try to refocus her country's economy but that will take longer than her political life. Well, it's obvious that feelings were really hurt. With so much in-house fighting in the Caribbean, this PM should have been more responsible. One cannot get upset over Beazer's decision to boycott TT's products, it's his/her decision because of hurt feelings. I am from St. Lucia and i think the prime minister's words were irresponsible and hurtful to her Caribbean counterparts. If TT was assisting other countries with monies, it was not in vain since its products are widespread across the Caribbean - that I see as strong support from her counterparts. Beazer's approach is not crazy. People in the Caribbean are offended and rightly so. Someone needs to inform the "Rookie" PM of TT, that when she opens her mouth or put in her appearance it's not personal but on behalf of the people of Trinidad and Tobago - which includes the factory workers. I too am offended and will monitor TT's actions before taking my stance. I don't know what all the fuss is about. No one can tell me to give my money away so why should Trinidad? I have never heard of Jamaica giving its money away.What did they do with all the the revenue they earned from their bauxite exports? I don't expect to get a reply to these questions - but you never know!!!! Why would anyone boycott Trini products just because their PM said something uncharitable? It's not like the workers in the factory control what the PM says, and they're the ones who'll suffer. Full blown arrogance for a "Rookie!" Jonny-come-lately thinks she rules? Well, my family and I have already begun to neglect any items on Antigua's shelves that have anything to do with Trinidad. And, I know others will follow slowly but surely. So, to Madam PM, keep it up and see where it leads. Well, I don't see anything wrong with Kamla's message itself, but just the way it was brought across. She's right of course in saying that the spendthrift habits of the former administration cannot continue but she could have displayed a bit more tact in how she said it. I doubt this will seriously affect Caricom relations though. T&T will still export a lot to the rest of Caricom and that is on the basis of their strong economic foundation, not on some illusory unfair practices as many seem to imply (including a lot of my fellow Jamaicans who are only scapegoating if they were honest with themselves). The fact is that Jamaica imports more than it exports from just about every country on earth. While Trinidad was in a strong economic position, we did have a responsibility to give meaningful support to the rest of the Caribbean. However, times have changed and we must proceed with caution, not forgetting tact. For Dominica I can say that when we need money we go to the ATMs in Caracas, Venezuela, Havana, Cuba and China not to the "ATMS" in Port of Spain. And thank God we did and do not now have to face this public reproach by the Trinidad PM. I'm not surprised, but am offended. Here is my short contribution- I vow to NEVER purchase another Trinidad product and I invite every Jamaican to do the same, our spineless politicians need to make a stand when things like this happen. Jamaica, I say boycott TT products. To what end? Someone has to learn the lesson the hard way that going it alone does not work. TT's manufacturing sector exist because of the Caribbean. Trinidadians on average would go to the grocery store and leave with 80% foreign goods and 20% local goods. The average Caribbean person would leave with 80% Trini goods. There is mutual giving and taking. There is absolutely nothing wrong with the rest of CARICOM looking to Trinidad and Tobago to shoulder some of the region's economic burden. In the euro zone, Germany and France have been required to provide the necessary backing to countries such as Greece who have been struggling economically. Indeed, in order for the CARICOM project to work well, the territories that are more endowed financially and otherwise should try to assist the less well-off Member States. In fact, the model for integration could be where Trinidad and Tobago provides financial backing, St. Vincent and the Grenadines provides nurses (as it is doing), Guyana and Dominica can be agricultural hubs, Barbados has a highly skilled human resource pool etc. Such a design will give much greater effect to the type of interdependence that should naturally follow the integration scheme that we are trying to build in CARICOM. However, while the T&T PM should have displayed more tact, her comments do point to the need for other Member States of CARICOM to take responsibility for their own economic future. The countries of the Caribbean have to live within their means. Budget deficits and huge debts cannot bring sustainable national development. I agree that Trinidad and Tobago must take great care before providing financial assistance to other countries as resources obtained too easily are usually not well deployed. Ask CLICO and British American policy and annuity holders in the OECS who has been the ATM machine and I bet the answer will be entirely different. The new Prime Minister (PM) lacks professionalism and it is no doubt that before long the Trinidadian people will start to feel the effects of an arrogant PM. It can be said that almost every country has felt the effects of the recent recession, but for a PM to say such a thing demonstrates the arrogance that cannot be accepted nor should be accepted by Caricom members. The "chum-change" that Trinidad puts forth is insufficient to run any Caribbean country. Furthermore, her statement has put yet another dent in the progress towards regional integration. Jamaica (my home country) needs to build better ties and relations to south America as well as Central America and therefore diversify its portfolio rather that trying to build ties with countries like Trinidad that only thinks about their own interest. Speaking, specifically from a Jamaican perspective, we have never at any point in our history gone to Caricom begging. For us Caricom is a complete waste of time and we should exit this organisation now, we import three times as much as we export, we open our ports and point of entries to every Caribbean national while our goods are refused, quarantined or refuse entry and we as a people are ridiculed, disrespected and abused at ports of entry....where is the equality and unity for the Caribbean? What arrogance, if Germany had taken the same attitude and did the same as this lady there would not be an EU common market. We are small islands with small minds and we will never progress until we have more forward looking leaders. For Caricom to work there needs to be strong and fair immigration policies and the large and small Island mentality. Look at Europe and the trading arrangements of North and South America. Until the Caricom leaders realise they have to speak as a single voice and negotiate as a single unit we will never be taken seriously. Yes there are serious issues to be resolved before hand (single currency for example); but with the quality, brilliance and intellect of the Caribbean people these obstacles should not be a hindrance to progress. To an extent I agree. Take St. Kitts/Nevis for example. Loans and grants are given to St. Kitts/Nevis and the money is not triggered down to the local man who is forced to pay high taxes and VAT but allegedly it is used to finance campaigns spent foolishly. The powers that be keep it to themselves and who has to toil and sweat to pay it back? Go figure... If PM like Denzil Douglas was truthful and honest with the populace and the people's money maybe she would not have made that statement. The Trinidad PM is ringing a bell and the rest better listen. Again, if the other Caricom Leaders were honest with other people's money then I would disagree with the Trinidad PM. The T & T prime minister has ulterior motives.She has not arrived at this conclusion after balancing the needs of the people of T & T. This decision has been made on the basis of her and her colleagues' ideology which is against regional integration. However, if there were to come a point in time where various Caricom nations decided to boycott Trinidadian goods, I would definitely not support it for that would just be unnecessarily hurting our fellow West Indians and in fact our own blood. Which Caribbean person does not have family in Trinidad, and vice versa? It is time to realise that this "every nation for itself" attitude will not work! Trinidad's success is a regional success and that is how it should be viewed. Stop complaining of giving millions of TT dollars as aid to your fellow nations when we ourselves pump millions of EC dollars into your economy! The utterances and other actions of (PM) Kamla Persad-Bissessa are indeed troubling. Well well I have been listening to these comments that madam prime minister is saying and I think she is making a big big mistake 'cause no man is an island so if she thinks that she is an island let her start cause when the Caribbean islands start to boycott Trinidadian products I hope she will explain to the Trinidad manufacturers and compensate them. You see what happened to Barbados when they deported and put that immigration law into operation. Look at their market place who is buying, how the economy is surviving. You know why the Caribbean is so backwards is because of comments like those by our stupid leaders. We need to unite as one Caribbean One People with one Future or else we will be dead in the water. One step forward two steps backward. I think if Trinidad was in need of any help, it would be made available and Kamla Persad Bissessar shouldn't say things like that because while she has to keep the interests of Trinidad close to heart, regional integration is important because almost everyone is dependent on another. And if Guyanese were to refuse imports from Trinidad then they will lose significant income. Live and let live. Caricom is not working for Jamaica! For every 3 items Jamaica exports to the region we import 9 or a 3-1 ratio. In Trinidad, Jamaican goods are met with a lot of prejudices and the same in the OECS and Barbados. Guyana exports rice to Jamaica, what does Jamaica export to them? Caricom and Jamaica are like the West Indies Cricket team in the olden days; Jamaicans are met with a lot of prejudices. The good thing is more and more people are opening their eyes in Jamaica and are seeing the disadvantages of doing businesses with Caricom. History will recall! Jamaica lose off Caricom Big time ! I agree with the statement made by the PM but I also feel she could have been more tactful. The financial mismanagement of the last administration will be felt by T&T for years to come. At present, the government is contractually bound to paying billions for tall buildings built by the former administration which remain empty and unused. The commitment to bail out CLICO may need another $10B or more. At the same time, energy sector revenues are declining and public debt is already 50% of GDP. Let’s not forget the wasteful public spending during the boom years in the 70s caused T&T to suffer a recession from 1981-1998, during which time we were forced to go to the IMF, cap in hand. Most people should think that the statement is arrogant. Yes she is a rooky politician but she is a lawyer with years of experience. The previous administration may have been loose with the spending and not have their priorities in order, but that does not mean they cannot assist the other smaller economies of the Caribbean. Neither do we have to wait for a disaster - just regular trade and other cultural and bilateral assistance. Trinidad has been blessed with its present natural resources. If managed properly a small per centage can be provided to help the much smaller islands. Her arrogant tone may just be another nail in the coffin for Caribbean unity. Most of the major economies are uniting around the world so should the Caribbean. One Caribbean, one people one future. Mrs. Persad-Bissessar smacks of the well-known political mathematical formulae by a Former TT prime minister: one from ten leaves naught" I agree with the stance taken by Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar. I think that she is best placed to look at the budgetary constraints of Trinidad and Tobago and to decide whether TT can contribute to the level that it has in terms of Caricom financing. All of the world's countries are feeling the pinch in this recession. Trinidad and Tobago is no different. I don’t think that fellow West Indians should take it personally but look at the matter objectively and know that what Mrs. Persad-Bissessar is doing is the right thing for her country. It's a matter of economics not emotions. Almost 50% of what I purchase on a monthly basis is made in TT. Snacks, confectionery, detergent etc. I even make an effort to support any goods produced in the Caribbean. SHOULD I LOOK FOR GOODS PRODUCED IN GUYANA ALONE WHEN I GO SHOPPING? This is unfortunate, a backward step for Caricom. I'm truly disappointed. Her comments were timely and necessary. Learn to cope. The Trinidad PM needs to be reminded that you can't eat or drink oil, and the comment that was made by her she certainly meant exactly what she said. If the rest of the Caribbean islands had to depend on her for assistance due to some catastrophe, I don't think that there will be any given. She may be a rookie, but that is not how she comes across. She appears to be very arrogant and condescending to native West Indians, and that is not good for business. Trinidad should learn from Jamaica's mistake in the 60s and 70s. We thought we were bigger, better and richer than the rest of the Caribbean and now look at our economy! The region needs to look at what Europe has done with the EU and follow suit. We need to unite the region. Trinidad has benefitted from Jamaicans buying what they produce. If we stop they will be in problems! Now I see the stupidity in the Caribbean leaders. They all think they give their money. It is the people money and an economy cannot function alone. It is global. The Trinidad and Tobago, Prime Minister will soon learn her mistake. I must also agree with the Prime Minister. Due to the amount of state funds wasted by the last administration on projects that were unnecessary or went hugely over budget and money lost due to corruption. The government must focus on the long term financial & development needs of the nation & its people or face severe economy hardships in the future. This of course does not mean that assistance to fellow Caricom Nation during times of serious disaster will not be given. I think that she is arrogant I was expecting to hear that comment during her campaign, but she held her tongue until after, because her votes would certainly have dropped. I completely agree. Trinidad has had problems feeding its own people, forget giving money to other countries. Focus on T&T residences, for at least the next few years. Get the people and the country back on track, then resume dispensing cash to other countries. | LOCAL LINKS  Don't blame people for the failures13 July, 2010 | News EXTERNAL LINKS The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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