Minister Swaratsingh: Secure Borders Key To Preserving CARICOM As A Zone Of Peace
Minister of Planning, Economic Affairs and Development and Minister in the Ministry of Finance, Dr. Kennedy Swaratsingh, has described Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s address at the United Nations General Assembly as presenting a “very clear and distinct voice” on matters of local, regional, and international importance.
Exploring the Prime Minister’s position that the « Caribbean as a zone of peace » has become a « false ideal, » Minister Swaratsingh drew attention to her talking point on « wars without borders. »
« At the end of the day, the intention of the Prime Minister is to make sure that, and her belief is that she can assist CARICOM as the Chairperson for Security Matters by making sure that, because when it comes to drugs, there’s drugs, there’s human trafficking, ammunition, there’s guns, and these things not just come to Trinidad and Tobago but through Trinidad and Tobago find its way into the wider CARICOM region. So, if you could prevent that from coming through here, I mean, take whatever other forms and other routes you want to take, do not pass through here, and let us try to preserve CARICOM so that we can, in the future, become a zone of peace. »
Addressing concerns about the US military presence in the region, Minister Swaratsingh reminded citizens to consider our strengths and limitations as a nation.
« Well, two things. I think people fail to understand that the US has been supporting us in our security apparatus for very many years. I mean, I used to be part of the Defence Force, and we have a regional exercise called Tradewinds. I mean, there are a number of investments that the US would have made in our security apparatus. But at the end of the day, what the US is providing with us is a blanket and a security blanket that extends far beyond our resources and capabilities. »
Building upon Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar’s statement that developed nations should not « force-feed a climate agenda onto developing countries, » Minister Swaratsingh confirmed the government is seeking a « balanced approach » that makes sense economically and environmentally for Trinidad and Tobago.
« From both an economic and environmental perspective. So that requires a very robust understanding of how we’re going to do that, but also a very clear intent to continue to develop our economy based on what has been our mainstay for the last 100 years or more, and it will be here for the next 20, 30, 50 years. »
Minister Swaratsingh added that the government’s overall intention is to improve our economic and environmental outlook through addressing both policy and behavioural change to leave an improved Trinidad and Tobago for future generations.
