CIA: TT a good place to invest

WITH the end of the year a mere 48 hours away, Trinidad and Tobago has received a solid investment rating from the most unlikely of sources — the United States Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). In its latest analysis of TT’s political and socio-economic indicators, (dated December 18, 2003), the CIA stated: “Trinidad and Tobago has earned a reputation as an excellent investment site for international businesses. A leading performer the past four years has been the booming natural gas sector. Tourism is a growing sector, although not proportionately as important as in many other Caribbean islands. The economy benefits from low inflation and a trade surplus. The year 2002 was marked by solid growth in the oil sector, offset in part by domestic political uncertainty.”

In terms of transnational issues, the CIA said TT had no such matters before it at this time. The only blemish the CIA found was this country being a “transshipment point for South American drugs destined for the US and Europe and a producer of cannabis.” On the issue of security, the CIA noted the presence of the Jamaat-al-Muslimeen but said the group does not pose a security threat either to locals or any foreign interest in TT. On December 21, the Department of Homeland Security increased the US national alert level from yellow to orange after the US intelligence community “received a substantial increase in the volume of threat related intelligence reports.” These sources suggested the possibility of attacks against the US “around the holiday season and beyond.” Despite the increased level of alert, TT’s security rating in terms of potential terrorist threats against the US remains unchanged. The CIA’s analysis is reinforced by the latest bulletins from the US State Department and the United Kingdom Foreign and Commonwealth Office, which both list TT as “a secure global destination.”