T&T in transport ‘hotspot’ at Caricom summit this week

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, Guardian - T&T’s stalled southern Caribbean fast ferry proposal and the regional controversy over T&T’s fuel subsidy for Caribbean Airlines are to be discussed at the Caricom leaders’ 34th summit starting Wednesday in Port-of-Spain. “Those issues (above) are current, so those as well as Caricom’s future will be examined,” Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Dookeran added yesterday.
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar assumes the Caricom chairmanship at this summit, which marks the 40th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Chaguaramas on which the regional movement is based. This was signed by leaders of T&T, Barbados, Guyana and Jamaica in 1973.

However, at least one Caricom member—St Vincent and the Grenadines—is coming to the summit armed with  opinions that T&T, one of the signatories to the treaty, may be in breach of the revised treaty, due to its position on the fuel subsidy, where LIAT is concerned. These and other transport issues may place T&T under a “hotspot” light at the summit. Communication Minister Jamal Mohammed yesterday said all regional heads will be attending.