PM, Trump meeting in the works

Addressing a post-Cabinet news conference at the Diplomatic Centre in St Ann’s on Thursday, Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) Stuart Young told reporters, “If there is to be a visit in the coming months, the coming weeks, whatever...at the appropriate time, you will all be informed.” Following a telephone conversation with Rowley on February 19, a statement issued by the Office of the Press Secretary at the White House, indicated that Trump invited Rowley to meet with him in Washington DC, “in the coming months.” Trump made a similar offer to Panamanian President Juan Carlos Varela, who he also spoke with on February 19. Rowley has also been invited to make state visits to China and Chile.

Young described the conversation between Rowley and Trump as “very productive.” He said it was instructive that statements issued by the OPM and the White House after both leaders spoke, “mirrored each other.” Saying there continues to be positive and active conversation between TT and the US at several governmental levels, Young hinted, “You may find in the coming time, there will be a continuation of those conversations.” Young said like all other countries, TT is monitoring what is happening in the US to see, “how things will affect our citizens.” He reiterated that the conversation between Rowley and Trump, “ focused on the continuation and the building of a relationship between our two countries in the areas of trade and security, other areas as well.” Young said Government continues to monitor a series of speculative reports with “loose figures” alleging that TT is a recruiting ground for the Islamic State terrorist group (ISIS/ISIL). “There is absolutely no correlation between that figure being thrown out and what our official tracking figures are and what we are working along with, with the international agencies,” Young stressed that this is a matter which Government is keeping a close eye on, in partnership with local intelligence and security agencies and this country’s international partners, including the US, Canada, France and the United Kingdom. A statement issued by the White House on February 19 identified, “terrorism and transnational organized crime,” as two issues which Rowley and Trump discussed in their conversation. On January 31, Rowley rejected allegations from former US Navy Petty Officer Malcolm Nance alleging that TT was among a group of countries which had more terrorists than seven predominantly Muslim countries, whose citizens were banned by Trump at that time from entering the US. “We are not burying our heads in the sand,” Young said.

Young also said Government was awaiting a report from State oil company Petrotrin about the status of negotiations with the Oilfield Workers Trade Union (OWTU).

He said both parties went back to the Industrial Court yesterday and, “they may proceed to open court.” Young said he was aware Petrotrin made an offer, “to the union of an additional one percent.”