Gopee-Scoon: Syrian conflict can impact on Caribbean

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, Guardian - Former Foreign Affairs Minister Paula Gopee-Scoon says the worsening Syrian crisis can impact negatively on members of the local Syrian and Lebanese community. But Andy Knight, director of the Institute of International Relations at UWI, St Augustine campus believes the repercussions would be minimal to this country. Gopee-Scoon, the Member of Parliament for Point Fortin and Knight views were sought in the face of military action being contemplated by the United States led coalition. 
Asked about the ramifications of an escalation in the situation, Knight said he thought several countries in the Middle East could be engulfed by the crisis but that here in the Caribbean, repercussions would be minimal.

“I doubt very much that it will spill over outside the region. So the repercussions for us here in the Caribbean will be minimal. At this point it would seem that the conflict is unlikely to affect oil prices significantly. It is very unlikely that people in Trinidad and Tobago will feel the pinch at the gas pumps. But other countries in the Caribbean region that are not as fortunate as T&T to have reserves of oil and gas, might feel the pinch.”