TT seeking closer energy ties with Latin America

ENERGY MINISTER Eric Williams held talks with executive secretary of the Latin American Energy Organisation (Olade), Diego Perez-Pallares, at the Ministry’s offices at Riverside Plaza yesterday. Perez-Pallares was on a one-day visit to Trinidad. The meeting addressed matters relating to restructuring of Olade, as well as programmes the Permanent Secretariat has been undertaking to promote energy integration between Latin America and the Caribbean. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Williams said Government was heavily committed to regional integration, with integration of the respective energy sectors being a key factor.

Consequently, TT continues to be an active member of Olade with a focus on all aspects of energy, he said. “We are fortunate and pleased that Perez-Pallares is visiting with us to further some of the discussions we have been holding and to renew the ties and deepen the relationship between TT and Olade,” Williams said. He explained that TT was currently working with Olade on two main projects which included development and expansion of an energy data base for the region and establishment of a tertiary level programme in energy conservation. “Mr Perez’s visit is very timely as well as important for us here in TT,” he said.

Perez-Pallares said TT had a great role to play in helping fellow Olade countries meet their energy potential, since Trinidad had great experience in issues of gas, petrochemicals and energy policies in general. “The great mission of Olade is the integration of the member countries and in that sense, Trinidad has had great leadership among the Caribbean countries. We will work very closely with the various programmes that will be of mutual benefit and will be a model of complementing and assisting Olade countries,” he said. Williams said Olade had accepted the application of TT national Annette Fitzpatrick, one of the Ministry’s senior planning officers, for the post of hydrocarbon coordinator, and noted that this was the first time in the 30 years of Olade history that a Trinidadian had held such a post. “You will recognise that a hydrocarbon coordinator is not insignificant in the scheme of things,” he said. Perez-Pallares explained that Fitzpatrick would be instrumental in the assistance and assessment of oil-related matters within the Olade programme. He said: “It is an honour for Olade that an official of TT has been chosen from many other candidates presented by the other countries to compile work, with the coordination of the petroleum items being undoubtably the most important.” Williams used the opportunity to present Perez-Pallares with a Memorandum of Understanding which TT signed with Venezuela last year as a symbolic gesture of the potential integration for associate Latin American countries.