Moonilal slams $30m TT promotion for FTAA

Speaking in the House of Representatives on the Caricom/Cuba bill, Moonilal slammed Government for spending $30 million for promoting Trinidad and Tobago as the FTAA headquarters. "Would FTAA light be worth all this expenditure?" he asked.

Referring to the Caricom/Cuba bill, Moonilal said that Trinidad and Tobago manufacturers had a number of concerns about increasing the trade to Cuba. He said local manufacturers pointed out that Cuban distributors had asked them to lower the quality of goods to accommodate Cuba’s lower buying power. He also pointed out that getting work permits and exit visas were a problem in Cuba.

Trade Minister Ken Valley intervened at this stage to point out that the Facilitation Office which is to be established in Havana, would deal with these issues.

Moonilal also called on Government to provide a report on the status of Cuban doctors working in this country. Stating that this policy was a "total calamity," he pointed to the fact that last year the country learnt that one of the doctors had fled to Miami and was asking that monies owed by the Government be sent to Miami.

Moonilal also dealt with Prime Minister Patrick Manning’s recent trip to Israel, pointing out that Manning met Ariel Sharon three hours after he resigned as prime minister to discuss crime with no national security minister present from either country. Moonilal wondered whether this was what the local media described as a "Manning moment." "A Manning or maddening moment?" Opposition Leader Basdeo Panday quipped. Moonilal supported UNC Political Leader Winston Dookeran’s call for transparency in foreign affairs.

Moonilal also called on Government to use the agreement between Caricom and Cuba, which covers many areas other than trade, such as national disaster preparedness, to deal with the flooding situation in the country.