Chilling with Chile

So, what could possibly link us with this Spanish-speaking country that runs the length of South America? One answer to that question is this: natural gas.

We are the main supplier of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to Chile.

As such, on his recent mission to Chile, Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley and his delegation were apprised of the Quintero LNG processing terminal in the Valparaiso region, and also the photovoltaic (solar energy) plant, El Boco (3.8 megawatt), in Quillota. On Friday, a large plant fuelled by clean natural gas, located in Mejillones, in the north, was opened by Michelle Bachelet, the Chilean president.

Chile is an important market for our LNG, but as the world — including China and the EU — push for a planet less reliant on fossil fuels, Chile’s embrace of green energy could eventually mean it may one day wean itself off even this commodity.

Right now, we enjoy a trade surplus with Chile, with our LNG exports far exceeding imports. But the time has come for us to diversify and to consider a fuller picture of Chile. With a population of 17.6 million it is an enormous untapped market.

As such, we welcome the Prime Minister’s visit to Chile. And we also welcome moves to establish a deeper relationship between both countries.

Chile is a key part of the dynamics of the South American landscape, both politically and economically.

It is essential that all stakeholders strengthen ties. This means close collaboration between the chambers of energy and commerce, the State as well as civil society.

The matter should also be approached from a social perspective, as this goes hand in hand with economic considerations.

As such it is notable there have been recent efforts to bridge the gap between the countries socially.

One example was CineLit, a film festival put on by the Bocas Lit Fest.

Chilean Ambassador Fernando Schmidt, with help from other Latin American embassies, supported this attempt to forge more dialogue between Latin America and Trinidad and Tobago as a whole. CineLit featured a programme of films based on Latin American books.

If we can begin to see one another, if our peoples start having mental pictures of our shared humanity, we can deepen our understanding of the world. Social linkages are worthy in their own right.

But the social is also a healthy foundation upon which to consider the political realities of the region.

Rowley’s disclosure of his efforts to lobby for a change in the leadership of the Organisation of American States (OAS) is instructive.

“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,” the Prime Minister said on return from his three-day trip on Wednesday.

Not only do we potentially benefit economically and socially from closer ties, but we can possibly form a valuable ally and partner who can exert influence on our behalf.

Like Brazil, where we have diplomatic offices, Chile is within the reach of key regional actors.

But in deepening ties with one and acting pursuant to ties with another, we must always be vigilant to ensure we maintain a requisite degree of impartiality. So that in lobbying on Venezuela’s behalf we must also ensure some of the principles we stand for as a democracy and free-market economy are not breached. We have to devise a formula particularly when dealing with Venezuela, mindful of its proximity to ourselves and Guyana and its border dispute with the latter.

None of this, however, militates against the idea that we should deepen ties with Chile.