Guyana and TT further commit to tackling trade barriers

The Governments of Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago have committed to confront the challenge that is hampering bilateral trade between the two nations but also to address issues of food security and energy security in the context of the wider Caribbean region. In addition, the two sides have also discussed Tourism and youth development.

Discussions between the current governments started back in May when Prime Minister Rowley visited Guyana.

At that time, a pledge was made to, among other things, remove non-tariff barriers so as to make trade easier.

At a joint press conference today in Port-of Spain, President Irfaan Ali who is on a state visit to the sister CARICOM state said it is time that the governments of Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana work together to advance the cause of not only the region but the two countries which he said have always shared a strong cultural bond.

“What we are working on is an agenda through which we can build a sustainable pathway that will bring prosperity, opportunities and advance the interest of the people of both Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana. We are not here to create an environment in which one party see themselves as winners. We are here to work in creating and advancing institutions and systems that will create a win-win environment for all those who are willing and ready to participate,” President Ali said.

The President observed that the two issues which must be given attention as a matter of urgency are food security and energy security.

He recalled that the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine have shown the vulnerability of the region to external shocks.

“We the people of this region—the people of Trinidad and Tobago must understand that we live in this global context and unless we are ready and willing to take hard decisions that will allow us to confront the challenges in this global environment and to build systems and to create an environment in which we will develop the necessary capacity to confront these global challenges, then we will not be leaving a sustainable pathway for development and prosperity for our people in this region,” the President said.

Within the context of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy, Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Dr. Keith Rowley explained that the goal in the region is to have food production increased on a larger scale, as well as encourage young people into food production and to remove non-tariff barriers.

“Because if a CARICOM country is producing food or the raw material for making food and other CARICOM country has a barrier between us—whatever the non-tariff barrier is, if there is barrier between CARICOM countries then increasing CARICOM production for CARICOM countries will not succeed,” Prime Minister Rowley stated.

Outside of the region, the Prime Minister announced that CARICOM is currently working with the United States on Energy, and Agriculture and financing for the region, with the intervention of the US President, Mr. Rowley said the agenda set out between the region and the US is moving ahead.