By Alicia Chamely
WITH approximately 350,000 Trinidad and Tobago citizens holding United States travel visas, the anti-American rhetoric being used by some citizens is the “height of hypocrisy and unkindness” says Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar.
Speaking on Thursday evening at a Christmas Supper at the Diplomatic Centre, St Ann’s, Persad-Bissessar said, “I’ll tell you something. You know, I think it’s the height of hypocrisy and unkindness that there are people in our country who want to fight the Americans.”
She said, “Tonight, I say it again. I stand in bilateral relationships with the United States of America.”
The prime minister was referring to recent criticisms levelled against the United States military campaign against narco-trafficking and the Nicolas Maduro regime, and the support herself and her government had lent the US.
Persad-Bissessar stated the anti-American sentiment among certain segments of the population was hypocritical, noting 350,000 T&T citizens hold a US Visa, many travelling into the US more than once a year.
Additionally, she stated, 250,000 Trinbagonians were living and regularised in the US, holding dual citizenship.
She said, “Did you know that I checked, and I found out over 350,000 Trinis have a US VISA, and they use this visa not to travel once, but they use it multiple times, several times. Some people travel. So why you’re bad mouthing the people? You want to go into the people country, but you want to badmouth them. Isn’t that hypocrisy from some?”
Persad-Bissessar warned of consequences to the anti-American stance being taken by some, saying, “Careful, you don’t end up like Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica who bad mouth in the US. And guess what happened? All their visas restricted. Now. They’ve cut their visas.”
“So, behave yourself,” she added.
Persad-Bissessar said, “I don’t want a single Trini or Tobagonian and to lose their US VISA. If it happens, it won’t be because of me. We remain in partnership with the United States of America. So, let’s live with that, and let’s continue to prosper together.”
She noted beyond being one of T&T’s biggest trade partners, counting for billions of dollars, should there ever be an attack on T&T, the US would be the nation’s help.
Persad-Bissessar said, “Understand where our help comes from. Understand who could protect and defend Trinidad and Tobago right now, there’s only one country in the world that can do it. They have the money, they have the equipment, they have the assets.”
Poking fun at Minister in the Ministry of Housing Phillip Alexander’s statement that India would defend T&T should our country ever be threatened, she said, “If anybody comes to attack Trinidad and Tobago, whom do you think will stand up to defend us? I know for this one (Alexander) say, India will come in. They’re not coming here, child.”
“So, we have to depend on any defence assets and military might and power. Who has it? The USA. Like them or don’t like them. That’s not the issue, who will give us the best to put T&T safely and to put T&T first,” she said.
Taking a light jab at the controversial US military radar erected in Crown Point, Tobago, the Prime Minister said, “And while you’re worrying about your radar, I want you to know every one of you is on my radar. Every one of you is on my radar because I’m looking out for you. So, you worry about radar, and you worry about Venezuela, don’t worry.
Persad-Bissessar congratulated her team of ministers on the work her government had achieved since being elected to office on April 28, emphasising the dramatic drop in murder.
“We have taken steps, as you know, to improve public safety,” she said, “We have 240 murders less than last year, and we will continue to bring it down. I told you; I said that in six months, we will improve safety and security. And we did that because we brought the murders down by 240, we did it!”
She said, “We took steps, as I say, to improve public safety and protect your well-being. We work to stabilise key institutions and restore confidence in governance. We advance policies guided by fairness, responsibility and respect for working people.”
Congratulating and showing gratitude for her team, she said, “These are not abstract achievements. They reflect countless hours of work by people in this room and across the nation.”
Persad-Bissessar said she was confident her government would continue this success into the new year and would overcome any challenges.
“As we look ahead, I look ahead to the New Year, which will bring many challenges and more hard work, there will be ambitious policies to implement and important decisions to execute, carefully and responsibly, but I am confident we will achieve our targets in the new year and forward from there. I am confident because of the dedication, skill and commitment I have seen from you throughout this year,” the prime minister said.
