Manning, Caribbean leaders discussing political union

Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Patrick Manning and some of his regional colleagues have been talking about a four-nation political union involving Trinidad and Tobago, Grenada, St Vincent and the Grenadines and St Lucia.

The talks are still in the initial stages. But Manning is on record as saying that Trinidad and Tobago's position is clear - greater unity is a must for the Caribbean region.

"We welcome political integration in the Caribbean and we make ourselves available for discussions on this matter and we will be part of any discussions that will advance that course," he told reporters.

St. Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister, Ralph Gonsalves, who held talks in Trinidad last week with Manning, is looking forward to a union.

Gonsalves told reporters following his two-day meeting with Manning that any political union between countries must be "structured in some formal institutional arrangements."

He indicated that former St. Lucian prime minister Dr. Vaughan Lewis, and former Trinidad and Tobago cabinet minister Dr. Cuthbert Joseph will likely conduct a study of the matter.

Neither Manning nor Gonzalves is saying exactly what is planned and why they believer a closer union with the four countries is needed when CARICOM already exists as the umbrella organization for regional unity and cooperation.

Gonzalves told reporters, "All of us know we cannot continue the way in which we have been going, but yet we don't want to think outside the boundaries of our individual sea and landscape....For my part, the words political union are not bad words."