00:00A high-level meeting with CARICOM heads in Jamaica, inclusive of Prime Minister Sturgeon,
00:05with United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio, is expected to allow for the ventilating
00:10of serious matters surrounding U.S. foreign policy.
00:13Congress of the People leader Prakash Ramade is hoping for the best in relation to those
00:17discussions, as he says the country, amid its heavy reliance on oil and gas, is in dire
00:22straits where production is concerned.
00:24I want to wish him well on behalf of the people of Trinidad and Tobago.
00:29There's always a possibility of success, but the likelihood is grim that Trinidad and
00:35Tobago may benefit from the drug and gas field.
00:39Ramade believes the country should not put all of its eggs into one basket where that
00:44is concerned, pointing to Caribbean neighbours Guyana and Suriname.
00:49Has there been any negotiations with Guyana and or Suriname, both of which Trinidad and
00:56Tobago has had friendly relations forever.
01:03It was disturbing to me to have seen in the media recently that Guyana is intent on exporting
01:10its oil production to the United States for refining, and then having it brought back
01:19to Guyana.
01:20It's against the backdrop of this country having the point of a refinery, which has
01:23been mothballed since 2018.
01:26Nigerian company Oando PLC was recently announced as the government's preferred bidder to lease
01:31the refinery.
01:32Ramade says Guyana's oil reserves were known for years.
01:36Was there any effort to partner with Guyana from its initial stages till today, because
01:43our refinery has the capacity to do far more than that which was available to it?
01:49It is not too late to hold these negotiations if they have not already begun.
01:53He cites the Guyana-Venezuela dispute over the Essequibo territory and the possibility
01:58that TNT's relationship with Venezuela may not have sat well with Guyana.
02:03Nonetheless, Ramade says if Caribbean neighbours are able to provide alternatives, should Draga
02:08not pan out the way the government is hoping, then that should be pursued with urgency and
02:13a high level of diplomacy.
02:15The COP leader states that the viability of the country and the region depends on it.
02:20Alicia Boucher, TV6 News.
02:23For more information visit www.fema.gov
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