By Alicia Chamely
TRINIDAD and Tobago and Grenada have formally restarted the process to strengthen cooperation and exploration of the Grenadian energy sector.
On Friday, Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar, Minister of Energy Dr Roodal Moonilal, Minister of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs Sean Sobers and Attorney General John Jeremie met with Grenadian Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell, his Chief of Staff Teddy St Louis and Grenadian Attorney General Claudette Joseph at the Diplomatic Centre, St Anns.
The meeting, which lasted just over half an hour, was aimed at strengthening the two nations’ collaboration in exploring and developing the Grenadian energy sector.
Speaking with reporters after the meeting, Persad-Bissessar said it was in line with her government’s campaign pledge to explore deeper energy relations within the region, with an emphasis on the untapped Grenadian energy deposits.
Persad-Bissessar said, “Several matters were discussed – chief concern was cooperation in the energy sector. When I formed the Government, in my first speech I talked about having closer relationships with Grenada.”
Mitchell, who described T&T as Grenada’s closest neighbour, added, “As the Prime Minister said, it was a very good meeting. The primary of the discussion was a focus on energy.”
Shortly after the meeting, a joint statement was released discussing the specifics of the meeting and its outcomes.
In the immediate, the release said within the next two weeks the countries would sign a data use agreement, giving Grenada access to seismic and well data in the North Coast of Trinidad and Tobago.
Additionally, the Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries of T&T would be collaborating with the Grenadian government’s Working Group to establish a regulatory framework for the petroleum sector in Grenada.
Proposed initiatives to be explored in near future were; T&T’s support in the participation of multinational companies in the provision of technical and institutional assistance in the energy sector to the Government of Grenada and T&T’s assistance with developing a promotions campaign for Grenada’s acreage.
The release stated, “The Prime Ministers of Trinidad and Tobago and Grenada expressed a dedicated interest in exploring new avenues for bilateral cooperation, grounded in the longstanding ties of friendship and mutual respect between the two nations.”
In non-energy-related talks, discussions were held for the possibility of a medical collaboration for assisting Grenada address its current shortage of specialist doctors.
