Bastille Day celebrations in PoS

After assuring that France is very active on the global warming front, with 194 countries having adopted and signed the Paris Agreement to date, Picquart took a jab at the US President for his recent withdrawal from the Paris Agreement. He said: “Not because the newly-elected President of a very large country has decided to withdraw from the Paris Agreement, that one must give up. On the contrary, we must re-double our efforts to ensure that our planet remains habitable for our children and grandchildren.

‘Make our planet great again!’ as President Emmanuel Macron has been proclaiming since June 1.” Picquart said President Macron has since decided to invite world leaders to Paris on December 12, to review the progress of the Paris Agreement at the conclusion of the COP21 (A United Nations Climate Change Conference).

Among the other challenges of which the ambassador spoke is that of transnational crime, recalling one year ago, when criminal terrorism caused the deaths of 86 people in Nice.

He said it is absolutely necessary for free people to come together to eradicate these plagues. Picquart then noted the close cultural ties between France and TT , and once again sang praises to Calypso Rose (McCartha Linda Sandy Lewis) who has experienced great success in France where she was awarded a Victoire de la Musique earlier this year.

An excited Picquart stated that France, is a great sporting nation, that may well be hosting the Olympic Games, in 2024 once ratified by the International Olympic Committee during its next session which takes place in Lima in September.

Then raising a toast to TT he said: “I renew to you my warm wishes for our two countries to be able to build together projects which bring hope and progress. Long live the Republic, Long live France.

Long live Franco- Trinidadian friendship.” Dennis Moses, Minister of Foreign and Caricom Affairs in bringing congratulatory greetings to the Government and People of the French Republic on their Bastille Day celebration said here in TT , our countries’ intertwined histories have left traces of French influence in aspects of our culture and architecture as well as in our agricultural sector.

He added that since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1962, there have been collaboration in many sectors including health, water management, aviation, construction and security.

Moses said too, there has also been significant engagement in education, with the Alliance Française being a pillar for French language and culture in TT .

In more recent years, Moses spoke of TT ’s participation in a Carnival Trade Mission in Paris and other European cities, as well as local films being screened at the Cannes Film Festival.

He then expressed the hope that both countries continue to mutually benefit from the sharing of our rich cultures and move toward deeper collaboration, following the Schengen visa waiver agreement signed in 2015.

After commending France for its leading role taken on the global stage in dealing with environmental issues, Moses raised a toast to prosperity, well-being and bon accord between the people of Trinidad and Tobago and the French Republic.