Kamla leaves Errol in charge again

PM Kamla leaves Errol in charge as she leaves for Panama

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar left for Panama Sunday, leaving Labour Minister Errol McLeod to act as PM until her return on Wednesday.

McLeod acted last week when Persad-Bissessar attended a two-day Caricom Summit in Suriname.

Her delegation on the two-day state visit to Panama includes Foreign Affairs and Communications Minister Suruj rambachan, Energy Minister Kevin Ramnarine, Trade Minister Stepehn Cadiz and Trade Ambassador Mervyn Assam.

A media release from the Office of the Prime Minister Friday among other things the visit is to conclude negotiations related to a Partial Scope Agreement between Trinidad and Tobago and Panama.

It's expected that Persad-Bissessar will also sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) during a bi-lateral meeting to be held with President Ricardo Martinelli.

Trinidad & Tobago is also expected to conclude agreements with Panama with preferential tariff arrangements for the export of bitumen, cement, ceramic tiles, clay tiles, steel products and other goods manufactured at home.

The Government has indicated that a part of Trinidad and Tobago's strategic investment thrust is to diversify and expand exports and to make Trinidad and Tobago a gateway to Central and South America.

Persad-Bissessar has described Latin America as the new frontier for South South Trade opportunities given the strategic location of Trinidad and Tobago and the Caribbean. She has stated that Trinidad and Tobago is poised to become a platform for manufacturers to enter a market with the potential to reach 600 million persons in South and Central America.