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| President Obama holds hands with the Prime Ministers of Jamaica & T&T |
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar told the Guardian newspaper the money was promised on Saturday during a meeting with American president Barack Obama and CARICOM leaders. Obama requested the meeting, which was held inb Colombia where the leaders were attending the VI Summit of the Americas, which ended Sunday.
Persad-Bissessar, who has lead responsibility for security in Caricom’s quasi-Cabinet, spoke with the Guardian after the summit ended.
She said she is happy about the outcome of the discussions. She said CARICOM will reveal "in due course" how the money will be used to enhance safety and security.
She described the two day summit as “useful”, adding that it provided an opportunity for T&T to network with other nations to promote “Brand T&T.” Persad-Bissessar held bilateral discussions, Brazil, Canada and Guatemala during her short visit.
In her address to the summit she urged the OAS to encourage prompt action to enhance safety and security levels for the people of the Americas. “We must act decisively on crime and violence in ways that make a difference,” Persad-Bissessar said.
“We know that the criminal elements operating in the Americas are very organised, in some instances to the extent that their resources exceed in number and sophistication in the resources of the State,” she adding, noting that the war on crime requiers cooperation among OAS states.
“We must be our brother’s keeper. No one, no one country can do it alone," she said.
The summit ended without agreement on a move to have Cuba become a member of the OAS. Persad-Bissessar told the Guardian the issue was “not put to a vote and there was no consensus.”
She said T&T remains in favour of the Caricom position to have Cuba included as a member of the OAS but the United States and Canada objected.
“T&T is of the view that a sovereign nation, such as the US, has a right to act in accordance with its domestic and foreign policy as does every sovereign nation,” PM Persad-Bissessar added. “We in T&T and the Caricom can’t force any nation to support our position on Cuba, we can’t strong-arm anyone,” Persad-Bissessar said.
She described the two day summit as “useful”, adding that it provided an opportunity for T&T to network with other nations to promote “Brand T&T.” Persad-Bissessar held bilateral discussions, Brazil, Canada and Guatemala during her short visit.
In her address to the summit she urged the OAS to encourage prompt action to enhance safety and security levels for the people of the Americas. “We must act decisively on crime and violence in ways that make a difference,” Persad-Bissessar said.
“We know that the criminal elements operating in the Americas are very organised, in some instances to the extent that their resources exceed in number and sophistication in the resources of the State,” she adding, noting that the war on crime requiers cooperation among OAS states.
“We must be our brother’s keeper. No one, no one country can do it alone," she said.
The summit ended without agreement on a move to have Cuba become a member of the OAS. Persad-Bissessar told the Guardian the issue was “not put to a vote and there was no consensus.”
She said T&T remains in favour of the Caricom position to have Cuba included as a member of the OAS but the United States and Canada objected.
“T&T is of the view that a sovereign nation, such as the US, has a right to act in accordance with its domestic and foreign policy as does every sovereign nation,” PM Persad-Bissessar added. “We in T&T and the Caricom can’t force any nation to support our position on Cuba, we can’t strong-arm anyone,” Persad-Bissessar said.
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