OAS head must go

“TT registered its strong objection to the behaviour of (Almagro)...

It is TT’s position that the OAS has been compromised in this matter and now cannot play any significant role in treating with Venezuela’s difficulty,” Rowley said. Reiterating TT’s position that, “We do not interfere in the affairs of neighbouring countries and will not be encouraged to do so now,” Rowley said he informed Bachelet that, “The OAS has now removed itself from any meaningful participation and has deteriorated now into partisan attacks and it’s threatening to have the same effect on Caricom.”

TT’S POSITION IS CLEAR While he didn’t identify specific Caricom leaders who spoke out on the Venezuela issue, Rowley warned, “If we are not careful Caricom too could destroy itself as an honest broker with respect to any involvement in assistance in Venezuela and their internal problems.” “TT made its position clear to Chile as a leader in South America, that it is our view as a long-standing member of the OAS, that the leadership of the OAS at this point in time, needs to change.” Almagro has spoken out several times against the Maduro administration, most notably in March — according to a Reuters story — when he accused Maduro of carrying out a “self-coup” after the country’s Supreme Court took over the functions of the opposition- led Congress.

Asked if TT is therefore abstaining from OAS votes, Rowley replied, “Yes, we are not supporting the initiatives that are not in our view, helpful in treating with the difficulties in front of us.” Regarding the lack of a unified Caricom stance on this issue, Rowley had another warning for his fellow Caricom leaders.

“If Caricom wants to be taken seriously and to speak with a louder voice, then matters of this nature should be Caricom initiatives rather than individual countries going off and taking individual positions, sometimes influenced by interests that may not be our interests.”

CHILE SEEKS GAS ASSURANCE During his time in Chile, Rowley toured several facilities and held meetings with several organisations.

He met with the Chilean Energy Sector at the Federation of Industry (SOFOFA) about TT’s position as a major supplier of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to Chile.

“TT is running a significant trade advantage with Chile because while they are buying from us, hundreds of millions of dollars in energy, we buy from them a small amount of other things...

One of the things that came up was how fast can we accelerate our negotiations (to complete) a partial scope agreement which would...

allow selected TT products; like LNG, (entry) into the Chilean market duty-free and of course, some Chilean products enter TT’s market.” Rowley pointed out that while Chile has a large number of trade agreements with other countries, there is none in place with TT. “So if we are to not be disadvantaged, it would fall to us to very quickly conclude a proper trade agreement with Chile.”

WE WILL FOLLOW THE LAW Asked to respond to calls for him to dismiss certain ministers for their alleged mishandling of funds on trips, the PM said he would “make the adjustments as and when they’re necessary.” On the property tax legal battle, Rowley reiterated that Government “will respect what goes on in the courts but I think, as PM, you’ll allow me a comment and I have my concerns.” “I find it very difficult to swallow ministers of a previous government could have a managed a law in a particular way, not to the benefit of the people of TT, and when they get put out of executive authority, those same persons could see the court as their playground; to the disadvantage of the people of TT...I stand by that comment but that does not say that I do not respect the outcome of the courts in TT and the Government of TT, the executive, we will carry our point of view to the highest court in the land, if we have to,” Rowley stated.