Trinis can have Jamaican beef patties

Trinidad and Tobago has told the Jamaican government it is OK to export beef patties to Trinidad, a move the Government of Jamaica has welcomed.

The patties issue was a contentious one, involving high level discussions between the two Caricom nations. In the end, Trinidad and Tobago's trade minister Mariano Browne cleared the shipment and advised Kingston of the all clear.

It took the intervention by Jamaica's deputy prime minister and the ministers of Industry Investment and Commerce, Karl Samuda, and Agriculture, Dr Christopher Tufton to resolve the matter.

A report in the Jamaica Gleaner newspaper said the ministers emphasised that Jamaica would be ensuring that the move "to have CARICOM formally address the streamlining of intra-regional sanitary and phyto-sanitary (SPS) procedures is given highest priority."

The Gleaner said Jamaica is expecting a regional inspection team which, in collaboration with the Veterinary Services Division, will visit processing facilities with a view to facilitating exports of Jamaican meat products throughout the region.