Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has told a Jamaica radio station her remarks about benefits from assistance to hurricane devastated Caricom islands were "most unfortunate".
According to media reports, Persad-Bissessar told the station on Monday night, "I do apologise for the statements that have been taken in this regard. I remain committed to regional integration and to our Caricom brothers and sisters."
Earlier this month the Prime Minister told reporters that Trinidad and Tobago should have some benefit from providing assistance.
"If we are giving assistance with housing for example...then we may be able to use Trinidad and Tobago builders and companies, so that whatever money or assistance is given redounds back in some measure to the people of Trinidad and Tobago," she said.
"The way I envisioned it is that, I can only give from my home, I think St Lucia Prime Minister Stephenson King put it in these words and I appreciate, when he said what Kamla is saying...that we don't expect her to go out and shop for us and so she would give us goods and supplies out of Trinidad and Tobago, that is what I meant really. It is most unfortunate the way my comments have been received and I do apologise for that," she said.
That triggered a storm of protest at home and abroad, especially in the context of her earlier remark that the Caricom region should stop thinking of Trinidad and Tobago as their ATM machine.
The matter went beyond that. Internet groups sprung up overnight calling for a boycott for Trinidad and Tobago products.
Persad-Bissessear later clarified her statement about benefits from the aid, noting that it was reported out of context. And politics leaders in the region also backed up the Prime Minister.
She told Radio Jamaica her administration has provided several shiploads of containers to the affected islands. She also explained that she made a personal visit to St Lucia on November 5 to get an idea of the extent of damage.
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