“We are ready to do business with Guyana” – T&T minister

BY MICHAEL YOUNGE

Trinidad and Tobago’s People’s Partnership government says that it is ready to do business with Guyana, and to work in several trade and economic areas which could result in both countries benefiting significantly and fast-tracking their overall development.

The twin-island republic’s new Minister of Trade, Stephen Cadiz, speaking during an exclusive interview with Guyana Times International, explained that both countries have had a long partnership and must now look to the future with great expectation.

Minister Cadiz said his country has the knowledge, expertise and financing available to lend assistance to Guyana so that some of its trade-related projects could be realised.

He said Trinidad and Tobago could work with the authorities here in the area of oil and gas exploration and energy, because his country has a wealth of knowledge in this area. Cadiz also advised that his country believes that Guyana is one of its leading trading partners, and has noted the recent efforts to implement projects which all constitute the right steps.

“I believe that Guyana is blessed with rich and fertile soil and arable land. It also has a vast variety of minerals, bauxite and general natural resources that we can both work to develop and benefit from; so I don’t see any reason why we should not do business with Guyana,” Cadiz explained. He is convinced that Guyana and Trinidad should also be working on improving the transportation links between the two countries, as they both have a significant role to play in Caricom.

He also expressed the view that Guyana could be used as a platform from which other Caricom and Caribbean countries could create linkages with South and Central America, with the aim of deepening ties and forging stronger relationships.

The TT minister of trade and industry also said that his government remains committed towards doing business with regional entities that share similar ideologies and objectives. “I see lots of areas with respect to trade — especially as we are seeking a solution to the prevailing high prices being paid for food — that the two countries can work in,” Cadiz noted.

The new People’s Partnership minister declared that his intentions are to modernise and revolutionise the way business is done in Trinidad, while at the same time strengthening the investment and business climate there. He was adamant that, for any government to be successful in governance, it must seek to meet the demands and needs of the public. He believes that through modern and well-thought-out trade policies there could be an improvement in the general standard of living and income of Trinidadians.

Cadiz has also given Guyana kudos for its leadership in the region with respect to environmental issues and climate change.

He said it was good for the Guyana economy that steps were being taken through various initiatives to use the environment to “make money” and “to develop the lives of all Guyanese”.

He said there were initial discussions between the two countries with respect to the development and usage of an old smelter plant, but he stated categorically that “Guyana decided to go the other way and honour its commitments to the environment first”.

Minister Cadiz said Guyana stands to benefit by making such a decision.