TT opening gateway to Africa

TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO wants to become not only the gateway to South America but the gateway to the African continent as well and Works Minister Franklyn Khan is optimistic that the latter will be achieved through the signing of a Bilateral Air Services (BAS) agreement between TT and Nigeria. Addressing a ceremony at his Ministry’s Richmond Street headquarters prior to the start of BAS negotiations, Khan said: “In July 2000, the inaugural session of the TT-Nigeria joint commission was held in TT and explored a broad range of issues including the establishment of bilateral relations in the area of energy, agriculture, trade and industry and technical cooperation in the spheres of education, culture and science and technology.

We recognise the need to give concrete expression to these efforts by the establishment of adequate mechanisms for transportation linkages.
It is for this reason the Government of TT believes that it is imperative for our nation to devise mechanisms to establish a viable, convenient and economically prudent air corridor between TT and Nigeria.” The Minister stated that while “geography has kept us apart” today, “history, culture, technology and commerce will bring us together.” Khan said plans by the Nigerian Government to develop Mutala Mohammed International Airport as a transport hub for their region were very similar to TT’s plans to develop Piarco International Airport as the gateway “between states in the Northern Hemisphere and South America” and there were areas for “close cooperation” between both governments on these projects. He said  BWIA will have a crucial role to play in developing TT-Nigeria transportation links and there were areas for cooperation at the technical level between BWIA and Nigeria Airways since the latter “is likely to have a fleet of the same aircraft.”

“We are waiting at the ministerial level of both governments to sign on the dotted line,” Khan added. Last month, Trade Minister Ken Valley reiterated BWIA’s importance to strengthening TT’s international trade links and announced that plans were afoot for BWIA to fly to the Dominican Republic from November 18. Valley was optimistic that BWIA was “past the worst” as far as its economic woes were concerned. Ag Nigerian High Commissioner Buba Tekune shared Khan’s optimism. He recalled that BAS talks between TT and Nigeria started in 1988 and he was pleased that after a 15-year hiatus, progress was finally being made. Foreign Affairs Permanent Secretary and former TT Ambassador to Nigeria, Patrick Edwards, said TT prospects for trade with Nigeria and the rest of West Africa were very bright but the only drawback to date has been the establishment of viable air and sea links.