00:00Ghana's President, Dr. Mohamed Ofran Ali, did not mince his words about what he thinks is needed
00:05to improve what he calls his country's valued friendship with Trinidad and Tobago
00:11as he spoke during the Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce's
00:15annual business meeting and outlook for 2026-2027 at the Haid Regency in Port of Spain.
00:21We can't come and say we want to manage the gas plant, which is an opportunity you will hear about
00:32soon.
00:33But then you can't bring two containers of lime into Trinidad and Tobago.
00:38It doesn't work. Let us be honest. It cannot work. And we must end this nonsense now.
00:47It is complete nonsense. It is mind-blowing that we can't sit in a room together
00:57as government and private sector and fix these problems.
01:01The President of Guyana called the solutions-oriented dialogue within a very limited time frame.
01:07So let's not talk about partnership and talk about coming together if we can't fix these problems.
01:14If we care about partnership, we care about building consortiums, we care about building a joint,
01:22and I can tell you that is the best way forward, a joint economic front between Guyana and Trinidad and
01:28Tobago,
01:29then we must care about fixing the problem. And let's get in that room, lock ourselves up for 72 hours,
01:35and fix the darn problem and come out the room.
01:39After he delivered the keynote address at the Chamber's event, TV6 News posed a question about one area
01:45of potential cooperation to President Ali while he spoke with the media.
01:49The possibility of the supply of natural gas from Guyana to Trinidad and Tobago,
01:53or the refining of oil from Guyana once the state oil refinery in Trinidad is back up and running.
01:59You know, we have to have a holistic look at the energy infrastructure.
02:03I don't believe that we should look at energy in a narrow form of oil and gas and refining
02:08and selling. We have to look at how we deploy our energy asset to build a diversified economy,
02:17to build strong economies, to build more opportunities, and to enhance the competitiveness
02:22of our industries, our businesses, and our countries. So for me, that is what energy is about.
02:28It's not about selling crude oil, refining product, and all of these things.
02:32So we have to get into that space that allows us to have a holistic discussion,
02:38and those discussions are ongoing.
02:40The newly elected President of the Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce,
02:44Karen Yipchuk, spoke about what the Chamber is doing to help improve competitiveness within the region.
02:52So, through Carrie Cham, a network of Caribbean chambers, we are building stronger business
03:01connectivity across the region and actively developing a Caribbean Export Academy to be anchored
03:10here in Trinidad and Tobago. Ladies and gentlemen, this is a significant achievement and one that
03:18we do not take lightly.
03:22Brown, TV6 News.
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