UNC’s Charles responds to PM Rowley
Speaking at a post budget political rally at Piggott’s Corner, Belmont last Friday night Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley stated that the People’s Partnership government spent $250 million on foreign travel during its five years in office with $30 million being spent by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
According to the UNC, that is an exceedingly small figure compared to the $340 million and the over $1 billion expended by the PNM on only two expenditure items in 2009 alone – The common wealth Heads of Government meeting (CHOGM) and summit of the commonwealth of the American.
The $250 million figure, which includes training abroad by military personnel, senior public servants and trade missions, led to unprecedented levels of achievement over the last five years which allowed Trinidad and Tobago to punch above its weight internationally.
So impressive was our standing in the international community during the People’s Partnership government, that Chinese President Xi Jinping made Trinidad and Tobago the first country he visited in the Western hemisphere since he became president. This led to significant Chinese investments in our country.
In fact foreign direct investment increase to over $3 billion US over the last five years the highest it has been in many years.
During the Kamla Persad Bissessar government our country was able to negotiate a Schengen visa waiver for citizens travelling to all 28 countries of the European Union. The country also took successful, proactive steps to prevent the reintroduction of visas for citizens, including businessmen, travelling to the UK.
In addition both Turkey and Peru have agreed to establish embassies in Port of Spain and a partial scope agreement was signed with Panama facilitating increased trade with that booming Central American country.
The country secured the appointments of then Justice Anthony Carmona, followed by Geoffrey Henderson to the International Criminal Court. Justice Anthony Lucky was appointed a judge of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, Francis Charles to the UN Commission for the Limitation of the Continental Shelf, while Mrs Deborah Thomas-Felix was recently appointed a judge of the UN Appeal Tribunal. In addition Deodat Maharaj was appointed Deputy Secretary General of the Commonwealth Secretariat.
The forgoing which is not exhaustive provides only a partial picture of some of our impressive foreign policy achievements suggesting excellent value for money for the $50 million per year spent on foreign travel over the last five years.
Yours Respectfully
………………………………
Mr. Rodney Charles
Member of Parliament
Naparima