Manning, Bush, Rice hold talks

News release: Prime Minister Patrick Manning meets with President of the United States of America, President George W Bush and National Security Advisor, Dr Condoleeza Rice

WASHINGTON: This afternoon, Honourable Patrick Manning, Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago held discussions with President of the United States of America (USA), George W Bush and United States National Security Advisor, Dr Condoleeza Rice on issues that are of critical importance to relations between the United States of America, Trinidad and Tobago and the Caribbean region.

The meeting started at 1:55 pm with discussions between Prime Minister Manning, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Senator the Honourable Knowlson Gift, and Dr Condoleeza Rice. Within five minutes of the start of the meeting, President George Bush joined the discussions, indicating that he considered Prime Minister Manning’s meeting with Dr Rice an opportune occasion for him to discuss a number of issues that are of critical importance to relations between the United States, Trinidad and Tobago and the Caribbean region as a whole.

Among the issues discussed by the US President and Mr Manning, for over 20 minutes, were:
- Haiti — President Bush expressed his concerns with respect to conditions in Haiti and his hopes that Trinidad and Tobago would play a bigger role with respect to resolving the situation in Haiti.
- Venezuela and Cuba — Disscussions also revolved around the political situation in Venezuela and Cuba.
- Special and Deferential Treatment — Prime Minister Manning underscored the importance of securing Special and Deferential Treatment for Trinidad and Tobago and other Caricom countries in trade relations.
- Energy Security — The role that Trinidad and Tobago plays in securing the energy supplies of the United States of America.
- Regional Security — Collaboration between the United States of America and Trinidad and Tobago in eradicating drug trafficking and other crimes that affect hemispheric security.