Good morning.
It is indeed a pleasure to have this opportunity to meet with you, the members of the diplomatic corps, this morning early in my tenure as Minister of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs. Since assuming office just over a week ago, Dr the Honourable Keith Rowley, Prime Minister of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and I have received a number of congratulatory messages from your countries. On behalf of Prime Minister Rowley and on my own behalf, I wish to convey my appreciation for the very kind sentiments expressed in those communications.
Let me also use this occasion to express our sympathy to Ambassador Fernando Schmidt and through you, Ambassador, to the Government and People of Chile on the loss of life, destruction and displacement which followed last week’s powerful earthquake.
Your Excellencies, each one of the nations which you represent is a key partner of our country and the Government of Trinidad and Tobago looks forward to deepening these bilateral linkages where our shared experiences and best practices, in a wide gamut of areas, will be to the benefit of our citizens now and for generations to come.
I am pleased to be advise you that Government has adopted a new policy framework which will be geared towards putting Trinidad and Tobago on “a path to growth, development, social peace, economic stability and transformation where all citizens will get their fair share of national resources…”. We have placed particular emphasis on national security, international relations, the water sector, the environment, energy and hydrocarbon based industries, trade and industry, infrastructure, education, health care, agriculture, housing, art and culture, local government, rural development, small business development and entrepreneurship, social sector programmes, youth development, sport, the differently abled, labour and gender affairs.
Some of the initiatives envisaged were inspired by effective programmes in your own countries and so, we intend to deepen our interface with you to ensure the best possible outcome in the implementation of the different projects and programmes at the national level.
Sustainable growth and diversification require the shoring up of all industries which we undertake to do within the appropriate framework. The Government of Trinidad and Tobago has also identified the following industries with greater export potential at this time for which cooperation with you holds significant promise:
· Agriculture and agro-processing
· Maritime services – shipbuilding, ship repair, dry docking and yachting services
· Fishing and fish processing
· Aviation services – aircraft maintenance and repair
· The creative industries – film, music, entertainment, fashion and design
· Financial services – making Trinidad and Tobago a regional financial centre
· Software design and application – it is the Government’s intention to make Trinidad and Tobago a technology and innovation centre
At the CARICOM level, Trinidad and Tobago is committed to the development and growth of the Community and to a strong CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME). We will support regional initiatives and joint action for diplomacy and commercial relations with South and Central America, Asia and Africa to complement existing structures such as those with North America and Europe.
Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, economic diversification is a recognized imperative for countries such as Trinidad and Tobago. As the diversification thrust accelerates, the Government of Trinidad and Tobago views the regional economy and the West Indian diaspora as part of the domestic economy and will deepen our engagement to that end.
Within the wider multilateral context, evolving global dynamics of an economic, political or environmental nature, demand that we increase our collaboration and Trinidad and Tobago will continue to play its part at the regional, hemispheric and global levels towards a new developmental paradigm. As we prepare to participate in the United Nations General Debate on the theme “The United Nations at 70: the road ahead for peace, security and human rights”, the importance of the Summit to launch the Post 2015 Development Agenda followed by what must be a successful 21st Conference of Parties (COP 21) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), cannot be overemphasized.
As a small state, the multilateral arena offers a platform to express and pursue the country’s development aims and aspirations as well as those of humanity as a whole. To this end, Trinidad and Tobago’s contribution to international efforts towards the establishment of the International Criminal Court, the implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the more recent Arms Trade Treaty, among others, is well documented. Continued adherence to and protection of the basic tenets of international law – respect for human rights, the rule of law and good governance – remain critical for a small island developing state such as Trinidad and Tobago. We therefore support the inevitable move towards broadening international discourse to include the perspectives of small states in restricted fora where we might not traditionally have had membership.
The Preamble to the UN Charter is particularly relevant referring as it does to our countries’ commitment, inter alia,
- “to practice tolerance and live together in peace with one another as good neighbours,
- to unite our strength to maintain international peace and security, and
- to employ international machinery for the promotion of the economic and social advancement of all peoples”.
Trinidad and Tobago remains engaged, is committed to making its contribution to regional, hemispheric and global affairs and to working with all our partners towards the future we Want. I look forward to working with each of the countries and organisation which you represent.
I thank you.
