Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley should be commended for using the art of diplomacy to bridge what was a widening gap between two Caribbean Community (Caricom) sister nations that enjoy a long history of friendship and co-operation.
That Prime Minister Rowley decided to travel to Jamaica himself this week to address the immigration and trade issues between both countries speaks to his belief that matters of such great importance need to be handled by heads of government.
We are encouraged by his conviction that his Government and the Andrew Holness Administration here in Jamaica, which we are told issued the invitation to Mr Rowley, will act on the issues raised during the four days of talks between both sides in Kingston.
Those issues include the trade and immigration issues that have dogged both nations for a long time, proper functioning of the Caricom Single Market and Economy, initiatives to strengthen co-operation in the areas of energy, tourism, air and sea transportation, as well as technical and cultural exchanges, including co-operation in sports, film, fashion, and the creative industries.
“What’s going to come out of this is that we will show a lot of co-operation between Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica, not just talk, but action,” Prime Minister Rowley told this newspaper at a reception hosted in his honour by Prime Minister Holness at Vale Royal Wednesday night.
We look forward to both governments honouring that commitment, because it is not healthy for the region if Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago, the two largest markets in the English-speaking Caribbean, continue to squabble over matters that are very important to the smooth running of Caricom.
Indeed, the value of a united Caricom is even more seminal in the aftermath of Britain’s vote to leave the European Union (EU) because, as was correctly pointed out by expert analysts and reiterated in this space a few weeks ago, once Britain officially exits the EU, it is highly unlikely that the remaining 27 EU states will want to maintain the level of official aid and investment that now exists between the bloc and the Caribbean.
And with Britain eyeing the EU’s combined market of 450 million people for new trade deals, it will naturally reduce its interest in Caricom’s market of seven million.
Despite the size of our market, a united Caricom, combined with the Dominican Republic, under the Cariforum banner, can, we believe, leverage its alliance with the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group to advocate trade deals with the EU that will help the region.
How well that will work is left to be seen.
However, what is sure is that we will not be able to achieve much if Caricom’s two strongest voices are not seeing eye to eye.
Prime ministers Rowley and Holness appear committed to ensuring mutually beneficial co-operation between both countries.
Government officials, technocrats and the private sector on both sides need to help make this work.