Time to relocate US embassy

THE EDITOR: Trinidad and Tobago has an obligation to protect all foreign citizens and all foreign diplomatic missions in our country. These rights to protection are however equal to those due to nationals of TT, and are no way greater. Both our nationals and non-national visitors are entitled to the same rights and security under our laws. I have no quarrel with the protection offered Ambassador Austin and the US Embassy by the barriers which have closed off Marli Street. At the same time consideration must be given to TT citizens, and not least to those who have worshipped at the All Saints Church for many years. I have no doubt that Ambassador Austin is embarrassed by the obvious inconvenience which he is causing to the many church goers to All Saints Church, whether for regular weekend services, or for weddings and funerals.

I want to suggest to Prime Minister Manning that he negotiates with Ambassador Austin that he relocated the US Embassy to another site, which will not so inconvenience the citizens of TT, and which could be better secured against terrorist attacks. I envisage a site around the Savannah, where the embassy can be set back safely from the road, and where there can be adequate grounds for protecting the embassy building. The site should not be a corner property to avoid another Marli situation. The US abandoned its new Moscow embassy building when it discovered that it had been bugged. The funding should not be difficult, as US $50 million has just been saved from the US decision to pull back grants from Caribbean countries that did not endorse the US policy toward the International Criminal Court.

MICHAEL  J  WILLIAMS
Maracas