00:00Trinidad and Tobago's Attorney General, Energy Minister and Foreign Minister raised their
00:05glasses in a toast to U.S. Ambassador Candace Bond moments after she received the Hummingbird
00:10Medal from President Christine Kangaroo at President's House.
00:15When Foreign and Caricom Affairs Minister Dr. Amy Brown met with the media at President's
00:19House, TV6 News posed the question about the historic moment.
00:23On today's occasion, is this the first time an ambassador, be it to the United States
00:28or any other nation, to Trinidad and Tobago, has received a national award?
00:35This is history in the making.
00:37I'm advised that this is the first time an ambassador of a foreign country has received
00:44a national award of Trinidad and Tobago.
00:49But Ambassador Candace Bond is extraordinary and her period of service here in Trinidad
00:57and Tobago has been quite remarkable in many ways.
01:02The Foreign Minister said the ambassador's short tenure of just about two years has been
01:07extremely productive, extremely positive and has brought with it some really significant
01:13developments for the people of Trinidad and Tobago.
01:15The Prime Minister has said it on several occasions, the United States of America is
01:19our largest trading partner, but the relationship has gone so far beyond trade.
01:26And Ambassador Bond has really brought with her a wealth of resources and contacts and
01:33facilitation that has benefited us across a range of sectors, particularly in national
01:40security, some of the assets and efforts that we've been making together, and particularly
01:47in our energy security and energy development.
01:51Minister Brown also commended Trinidad and Tobago's diplomatic team in Washington, recently
01:56led by retired Brigadier General Anthony Phillips Spencer, who was recalled to head the SSA.
02:01There's no doubt the arrival of Candace Bond has been really instrumental in this relationship.
02:08I'm very sad to see her go, but this is part of the rhythm of diplomacy and change.
02:15We remain available to welcome the incoming ambassador whenever he or she is identified
02:22and confirmed within the U.S. system, but that doesn't give us any hesitation in really
02:28underscoring our appreciation and value for this current U.S. ambassador.
02:35The next U.S. ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago will be appointed only after being confirmed
02:39by the U.S. Congress under the new administration of Donald Trump, who will take his oath of
02:44office as the new U.S. president on Monday.
02:48Jule Brown, TV6 News.
02:52For more information visit www.fema.gov
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