A reassuring meeting

IT IS GOOD to report that Prime Minister Patrick Manning met and held discussions with United States President George W Bush at the White House on Monday. Our exclusive account of the meeting together with our front page picture of Mr Manning, Mr Bush and US National Security Advisor Condoleeza Rice must effectively refute reports appearing elsewhere that the Prime Minister would be snubbed by the US President when he visited Washington. Clearly there was no such intention; in fact, Mr Bush came into the meeting regarding it as an opportune occasion to discuss a number of issues of critical importance to relations between the US, TT and the Caribbean region as a whole.

The amicable discussions between the two leaders also served to refute the speculation in another arm of the media that relations between the two countries were strained as a result of TT’s support for the International Criminal Court which had led the US to impose military sanctions on TT and the Caribbean. Unsupported by any editorial comment, one was inclined to detect in these false reports a feeling that little TT would be getting what it  deserved by not kowtowing to the world’s only superpower. From that point of view the meeting was also instructive as it demonstrated that two countries, pursuing policies based on their own national interest, could meet in a friendly spirit to discuss matters of mutual concern.  As far as our support for the ICC is concerned, we not only concurred with the need for such a permanent Court to deal with war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity but also appreciated the crucial part which former TT Prime Minister ANR Robinson played in its formation and, also, the subequent election of Mr Karl Hudson Phillips QC as one of its 18 judges. The US government could hardly have expected TT to withdraw its backing for the Court in these circumstances, regardless of the pressures.

It is to our nation’s credit, in fact, that we have always taken decisions based on principle and enlightened self-interest in matters involving our relations with the United States and not out of fear of offending the mighty superpower to the north, in spite of its economic clout. On occasion, we have even disagreed openly with the US — for example our strong opposition to the US invasion of Grenada, virtually standing alone among our fellow Caribbean states. This pro-TT determination may also be seen in negotiations to secure increased benefits for the country from US corporations engaged in our energy sector. At Monday’s meeting, Mr Bush, in fact, would have been keenly interested in TT’s role in securing his country’s energy supply. It would be quite foolish, even hypocritical, for the United States administration not to understand and accept the policies adopted by our country. But whatever view they may have of our decisions, they must know that these decisions present no threat to their country or their interests. We are a sovereign nation pursuing our own development on our own terms. Still it must be pleasant to emphasise the many things TT and the US share in common, particularly our commitment to open democracy, constitutional freedoms and human rights. In such a context, Monday’s meeting between Mr Manning and Mr Bush is a pleasing one, not only because it refutes misinformed reports but because it confirms the mutual respect two independent countries must have for each other, a respect that acknowledges the rights of sovereignty.