PM: US must do more
Noting that Persad-Bissessar met with US Deputy Secretary of State William Burns in Washington DC on April 17, Dookeran said the Prime Minister “stressed the need for the US Government to do more to assist TT and other Caribbean countries in the fight against the illegal drug trade.” He said Persad-Bissessar also took the opportunity during her meeting with Burns regarding a lack of information on the backgrounds of persons deported from the US to TT.
At a public meeting in Penal on April 22, Persad-Bissessar said information which she received from the US State Department while she was in Washington, led to her accepting Jack Warner’s resignation as National Security Minister on April 21. US Vice-President Joe Biden will visit TT the last week of May.
Dookeran also reported to the House about Persad-Bissessar’s official visit to Canada, noting that four memoranda of understanding (MOUs) were signed during that visit. Two of the MOUs dealt with defence and security. The other two dealt with health care and public health.
Noting that Persad-Bissessar and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper launched negotiations between the Air Guard and Provinicial Aerospace Limited of Canada for two long-range multi- mission aircraft for the Air Guard, Dookeran reiterated, “As of now, there is neither a formal contract nor any other agreement for purchase between the parties.” The Office of the Prime Minister issued a statement on this matter on May 6.