PM Persad-Bissessar to Meet Trump at Shield of the Americas Summit

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Caption: Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, left, and Minister of Works and Infrastructure Jearlean John

Summary

High-Level US Meeting: Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar is heading to Florida for the Shield of the Americas Summit to hold talks with US President Donald Trump and key cabinet members.
Exclusive Invitation: Trinidad and Tobago is one of only two CARICOM nations invited to the summit, alongside Guyana.
Latin American Talks: The Prime Minister is also scheduled to hold bilateral discussions with the presidents of Argentina, Panama, El Salvador, and the Dominican Republic.
Strategic Goals: The delegation’s primary focus is to strengthen T&T’s long-standing partnership with the US, prioritizing energy security and economic growth.
Acting PM: Minister of Works and Infrastructure Jearlean John will serve as acting Prime Minister while Persad-Bissessar is out of the country.

By Alicia Chamely

PRIME Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar is set to hold dialogue with US President Donald Trump and key members of his government at the Shield of the Americas Summit in Doral, Florida.

Persad-Bissessar, who departs on Friday, will be joined by Minister of Foreign Affairs and CARICOM Sean Sobers, as well as Ministers in the Office of the Prime Minister, Barry Padarath and Nicolas Morris.

Minister Morris announced the delegation and provided details of the trip during Thursday’s post-Cabinet press briefing at the Diplomatic Centre in St. Ann’s. He also confirmed that in the Prime Minister’s absence, Minister of Works and Infrastructure Jearlean John will act as Prime Minister.

Highlighting the strengthened diplomatic relationship between T&T and the US, Morris said, “The Prime Minister will have an opportunity to have dialogue with the President of the United States, as well as other senior officials, including Secretary of State Mr. Marco Rubio, United States Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, and Secretary of Energy Chris Wright.”

Morris noted that T&T is one of only two CARICOM nations invited to the summit, the other being Guyana. He added that the Prime Minister is also scheduled to hold bilateral discussions with four Latin American nations.

“The Prime Minister, through the Minister of Foreign Affairs, has requested bilateral discussions with her colleagues: the President of Argentina, the President of Panama, the President of El Salvador, and the President of the Dominican Republic,” Morris said.

Discussing the significance of the meeting, he stated, “It is a very big opportunity for Trinidad and Tobago to continue our fight on the regional and international stages, to bring opportunities back to the people of Trinidad and Tobago. We will update you as this trip progresses.”

When asked what the government aims to achieve at the summit, Morris emphasized the importance of the US-T&T alliance.

“The goal of the government, in any form or fashion, is to continue our cooperation with our very old ally, the United States,” he said. “I think the goal we’ve put forward from the Prime Minister’s and Minister of Foreign Affairs’ levels in attending these conferences is to continue cooperating with the largest economy in the world on energy security and economic growth, and to reassure that partnership between the United States and Trinidad and Tobago. We want to put this on the record.”

He added, “The overarching goal of attendance at any US summit or meeting is to strengthen that partnership with one of our oldest allies, and secondly, to continue our partnership with the largest economy in our global community.”

Morris was also questioned about recent comments made by Defence Minister Wayne Sturge, who attended earlier summit meetings dealing with national security. Sturge reportedly stated that “T&T stands ready,” that T&T’s “doctrine” aligns with that of the US, and that all T&T requires are “assets.”

In response, Morris indicated he could not speak on behalf of the Defence Minister. “I think Minister Sturge will be the best one to state the classification of those assets. I would be out of place, not having a protective service background and not being in that ministry, to answer that. So, apologies on that, but I think we have to wait for the Minister to define it.”