Caption: Opposition Leader Pennelope Beckles
NEW YORK – Trinidad and Tobago’s Opposition Leader Pennelope Beckles-Robinson has emphasised the critical role remittances play in supporting Caribbean families and economies, recognising the sacrifices of diaspora communities across the United States.
Speaking at the Caribbean Diaspora United, Inc.’s (CDU) Second Annual Community Unity Breakfast at Russo’s on the Bay in Queens, New York, Beckles-Robinson noted that over 15 million people of Caribbean heritage reside in the US, including more than four million in the New York Metropolitan area.
“The Caribbean region values your remittances to families and worthy causes,” she said. “But more importantly, the region knows that regardless of where you reside, you love your homeland. And that love transcends all. We may not say it as often as we should, but we love your love.”
Beckles-Robinson, the first woman to be elected leader of the People’s National Movement (PNM), described remittances as “acts of love,” acknowledging the personal sacrifices migrants make to send support home.
“You send school fees, you have two or three jobs, you are quiet heroes,” she said. “And, in some instances, they (beneficiaries) don’t appreciate.”
“And the work ethic – if we have half of that, we’ll be better off,” Beckles-Robinson added.
The PNM leader thanked those in the diaspora for their ongoing support, which has helped many, including her constituents, by providing laptops, books, and other essentials.
According to the Washington-based Inter-American Dialogue, nearly US$170 billion was remitted to Latin America and the Caribbean through a wide network of remittance service providers or money transfer operators in 2024, with 80 per cent originating from the United States.
The Dialogue noted that migration trends, return flows, and deportations will influence the volume of funds sent in 2025.
“The outlook for 2025 anticipates growth of up to five per cent; however, depending on the severity of a potential US recession—alongside declining migration and rising deportations—growth may fall short of that estimate,” it said.
Over the past decade, the United Nations said, migrants have sent US$5 trillion in remittances to low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), exceeding official development assistance and equaling foreign direct investment. By 2030, it said an estimated US$4.4 trillion in additional remittances will flow to (LMICs).
“Remittances are more than just financial transactions—they are a lifeline for millions of families, a catalyst for economic empowerment, and a key driver of sustainable development,” the UN said. (CMC)
