Opinion
- Editorial- Commentary
Express
Editorial :
Break
the silence on PetroCaribe
THERE continues to be a deafening and worrying silence
from the Government of Trinidad and Tobago on the project
by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez known as PetroCaribe.
Neither the Minister of Energy nor the Prime Minister
who in fact was last known to have been nominated by
Caricom leaders to negotiate with Chavez on their behalf,
has troubled to respond to the latest intriguing development.
Some two years after the offer by Chavez to provide
oil at concessionary prices on special terms to Caricom
member states was first mooted, the Venezuelan President
continues to pursue it with his revolutionary zeal.
Not taking no for an answer he has, in a virtual end-of-the-year
statement, urged Trinidad and Tobago to join up. This
country and Barbados are the only two hold-outs to
what for many was a deal they could not refuse.
This notwithstanding what all the regional countries
continue to acknowledge has been the pivotal role played
by Trinidad and Tobago in providing energy assistance
to its Caricom neighbours.
But some countries, such as St Lucia, have in the
past pointed to the alleged difficulties in the payments
system under which Trinidad and Tobago's energy supplies
have been made available. This, the former prime minister
of St Lucia Dr Kenny Anthony has been on record as
saying, has been one of the reasons why the PetroCaribe
arrangement appeared as attractive as it has.
Trinidad and Tobago has substantial trade and economic
relations within Caricom. This in itself underpins
the significant energy arrangements as well as other
aspects of wide-ranging assistance and co-operation
with the sub-region, emanating in Port of Spain.
But there are also serious hemispheric geopolitical
implications behind PetroCaribe. At a meeting in Cuba
last month at which the latest offer from Chavez was
to come, Trinidad and Tobago appeared not to be in
a position to advance its own case on the vital question
of energy security in the region.
Conclusions on this matter, the meeting acknowledged,
cannot be arrived at without vital input from this
country. No satisfactory reason has been advanced either,
for the breakdown in communication which resulted in
the non-attendance at a meeting in Venezuela in mid-last
year by Prime Minister Manning.
Too much is at stake on many fronts regarding economic
and political relations in Caricom-with Trinidad and
Tobago being a principal partner in much of this-for
the Government to continue to keep the country in the
dark.
Trinidad
Express is
one of the most important newspaper in Trinidad &
Tobago . Petroleumworld
not necessarily share these views.
Editor's
Note: This article was first publish
in Trinidad Express,Wednesday, January 2nd 2008.
Petroleumworld reprint this article in the interest
of our readers.
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Petroleumworld
01/ 06 /07
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