Welcome, Mr Chavez

TOMORROW'S meeting between Prime Minister Patrick Manning and Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, although informal, should have an urgent and formidable agenda. Trinidad and Tobago and its South American neighbour have a lot of new and unfinished business to settle, matters which may have fallen into suspension as a result of the recent political problems experienced by both countries. Whether any hard or conclusive decisions would be taken on the wide range of issues to be discussed tomorrow is uncertain but it is reassuring to know that this informal summit is taking place, that the two leaders are meeting personally and that, at least, the quest for solutions and agreements will be actively resumed. Mr Chavez's difficulties, it is true, are far from over and the situation in Venezuela remains uncertain but the former army lieutenant has managed to survive a coup attempt and a prolonged national strike. In any case, he remains the elected President of Venezuela and head of its government, the man we must deal with in pursuing a more settled relationship with our traditionally friendly neighbour.

Perhaps the most crucial question that will be discussed between the two leaders is the mining of oil and gas reserves on either side of the maritime boundary which divides our two countries. With TT's thrust to maximise the benefits of its natural resources, the expanding exploration and exploitation of its marine fields, this matter has now apparently assumed urgent and critical proportions. The situation here may well be unique, of two closely situated countries, both producing oil and gas as the mainstay of their economies, and both drawing from common reserves that cross their borders. It is understood that the leaders will attempt to fine tune a 1990 agreement between TT and Venezuela, to establish a clear policy on how the countries will share reserves where these resources and the borders overlap. According to Venezuelan Ambassador Hector Azocar, joint venture co-operation in this area could focus on the Deltana Platform field which is estimated to contain 38 trillion cubic feet of gas and which may end up being produced through Trinidad. These are matters, of course, which we expect Mr Manning to look at very carefully.

Tomorrow's discussions, we expect, will also include the need for the two countries to establish closer security ties, particularly with respect to dealing with the illegal drug trade. As part of the battle against crime, National Security Minister Howard Chin  Lee had called for this in May last year and he may have some ideas as to how this co-operation in security may be achieved. PM Manning may also been keen on discussing with Mr Chavez and his team threats to our security and the rising crime rate caused by the trafficking in firearms. Another important matter which Mr Manning is likely to raise with the Venezuelan president is TT's bid to host the headquarters of the Free Trade Area of the Americas due to be launched in 2005. While it is expected that our quest to be the site of the FTAA secretariat will have Venezuela's support, it would be good if Mr Manning obtains a firm assurance from Mr Chavez. The fact is that TT and Venezuela have always enjoyed an amicable relationship, inspite of the problems our fishermen have experienced. However, we have never managed to establish an active on-going mechanism for mutual co-operation; the hope that we once placed in a mixed commission seems to have died a natural death. It is now obvious that a whole host of important and urgent issues between these two close neighbours demand the setting up of such a mechanism. Maybe tomorrow's meeting will lay the groundwork for it. Welcome Mr Chavez.