Gift: TT, Grenada inch towards integration

FOREIGN AFFAIRS Minister Knowlson Gift described yesterday’s signing of an agreement between Trinidad and Tobago and Grenada to establish a Grenada Consulate and Trade Office in Port-of-Spain as yet another important step along the road to regional integration. Addressing the signing ceremony at Knowlsey Building, Gift said the agreement was signed “in the Caricom spirit of good neighbourliness” to promote trade and investment between the two nations and represented another step towards regional integration. The Minister said given the numerous internal and external challenges facing Caricom, the strengthening of bilateral ties amongst its members was crucial. 

Noting the longstanding good relations between the two countries, Grenadian Foreign Affairs Minister Elvin Nimrod said Grenadians had contributed significantly to TT’s development over the years and vice versa. Nimrod disclosed that the idea of the office was first discussed between the two nations in June 2001 and he expressed his government’s thanks to Prime Minister Patrick Manning for bringing it to fruition. He agreed with Gift that yesterday’s agreement represented “a quantum leap to deepen integration” in Caricom. Nimrod disclosed that the two countries will also be studying means of closer collaboration in the areas of security, sports and tourism. Dr Vernon Scoon is the Grenadian Trade Consular-designate to TT. Nimrod estimated there could be some 25,000 Grenadians in TT at this time.