CARICOM, Costa Rica trade agreement launched

Valley has previously described this and other free trade agreements between Caricom and other regional nations, as vital to Trinidad and Tobago’s efforts to integrate its economy into that of Latin America. The minister said these efforts will provide TT with added strength and bargaining power for hemispheric and international negotiations. Prior to the commencement of last week’s crime debate in the House of Representatives, the Lower House was debating the Caricom/Cuba Trade and Economic Cooperation Bill 2005. Since 2001, Cuban doctors and nurses have been coming to TT to fill critical vacancies in the health sector.

Prime Minister Patrick Manning underwent a successful pacemaker implant in Cuba in August 2004. This was a follow-up to heart surgery which Manning underwent in Cuba in 1998 to repair two leaking valves in his heart.