00:00Please raise your right hand and repeat after me.
00:03I, Donald John Trump, do solemnly swear.
00:06I, Donald John Trump, do solemnly swear.
00:09That I will faithfully.
00:10Donald Trump was sworn in as the 47th president of the United States on Monday,
00:14marking his second four-year term in office,
00:17following the administration led by now former U.S. President Joe Biden.
00:23In a Facebook post on Monday,
00:24outgoing opposition MP Rodney Charles said
00:27the international community braces for a seismic shift in global geopolitics,
00:32as he alluded to Mr. Trump's intention to sign more than 200
00:37legally binding executive orders on his first day.
00:41MP Charles said that his statement last week stands
00:44that this is a defining moment for Trinidad and Tobago
00:47to rethink the nation's strategies,
00:50strengthen and diversify its alliances,
00:52and assert its relevance on the world stage.
00:56TV6 News has brought a comment from Foreign and Caricom Affairs Minister Dr. Amy Brown
01:00about what Trinidad and Tobago can expect from a second Trump administration.
01:05The foreign minister told TV6 News,
01:07quote,
01:08Trinidad and Tobago continues to enjoy excellent relations
01:11with the United States of America across various administrations,
01:15and we look forward to working with President Trump and his team
01:19on all matters of mutual interest, end quote.
01:23The recent progress on the deal for the supply of natural gas
01:26from Venezuela to Trinidad and Tobago occurred in part
01:29due to the lifting of certain U.S. sanctions
01:32resulting from negotiations between the government of Trinidad and Tobago,
01:35led by Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley,
01:38and the Biden administration.
01:40During a media conference late last year on November 29,
01:43TV6 News posed a question to Prime Minister Rowley about that matter
01:48before he announced he would be leaving electoral politics
01:51and resign as the head of the government
01:53before the general election due this year.
02:21Prime Minister Rowley also said,
02:30quote,
02:31If the government changes,
02:32our argument is still the same to the United States government, end quote.
02:52On Friday, Candace Bond, who was appointed U.S. ambassador
02:55during the Biden administration,
02:57received one of Trinidad and Tobago's highest awards,
03:00the Hummingbird Medal Gold,
03:02as her term in office ended to make way for the new U.S. ambassador
03:06under the second Trump administration.
03:08The foreign minister spoke to the media about that
03:11after the national awards ceremony.
03:14There's no doubt the arrival of Candace Bond
03:17has been really instrumental in this relationship.
03:21I'm very sad to see her go,
03:23but this is part of the rhythm of diplomacy and change.
03:28We remain available to welcome the incoming ambassador
03:31whenever he or she is identified and confirmed within the U.S. system.
03:38But that doesn't give us any hesitation
03:40in really underscoring our appreciation and value
03:45for this current U.S. ambassador.
03:48Among the policies President Trump announced during his inauguration speech,
03:52the increased drilling of oil and natural gas in the U.S.,
03:56and the establishment of an external revenue service
03:59to collect taxes and tariffs from foreign sources.
04:02President Trump also announced it would be the policy of the U.S. government
04:07that there are only two genders, male and female.
04:11Jewel Brown, TV6 News.
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