JAMAICA MAKE ME PM'
The only woman among 15 regional leaders, Persad-Bissessar on Sunday celebrated her ties with the host country of the 31st Caricom Heads of Government Meeting, saying Jamaica, where she lived for 14 years, influenced her career in politics. She also found love in this country, but did not say who had won her heart.
“Jamaica was once my home for some 14 years. I studied here, fell in love here, taught here and attended my first political meeting right here in Jamaica. So in a sense one can say that Jamaica helped prepare me in becoming Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago. I guess if my political opponents knew this would occur they would have done everything in their power to ensure I stayed right here,” Persad-Bissessar said in her debut address to Caricom leaders at the Half Moon Hotel at Montego Bay.
“May I add that I also spent a few years in Barbados as well, in fact, my son is Barbadian born. And I believe such experiences help to sharpen an understanding of that unique Caribbean identity and perspective,” Persad-Bissessar said, who is married to Dr Gregory Bissessar.
She learnt many life lessons from her years in Jamaica and Barbados which contributed to her ascendancy as a leader in Trinidad and Tobago.
“During those early periods of my life I never dreamt I would be one day addressing such an esteemed group of Caribbean leaders at all, much less as Prime Minister of my nation.
But I guess one can never underestimate the education of a Caribbean experience, especially that of a woman who encounters it,” she said.
Although she leads a new government in Trinidad and Tobago, Persad-Bissessar assured this country remains committed to supporting its Caricom neighbours, pausing to extend her sympathy to President of Haiti Rene Preval over the devastating earthquake which killed thousands in the impoverished nation on January 12.
“The fortitude, dignity and resilience demonstrated by the people of our sister isle state of Haiti in the wake of this terrible event have won profound respect,” she said, renewing a pledge to continue to provide aid to Haiti.
Persad-Bissessar said Caricom remains a symbol “for an improved quality of life for all in the region”, and made an appeal for leaders to “reduce poverty throughout the community so that all our people can enjoy a higher standard of living”.
She held up several early initiatives of her government as examples, such as the $100 million Life Fund, proposing a similar Caricom Life Fund to help provide better care for sick children. President of Guyana Bharrat Jagdeo welcomed this proposal yesterday saying his country is now pursuing similar initiatives. Jagdeo also said greater effort must be made to protect women who are single heads of households in the region.
Jagdeo himself came in for praise from Persad-Bissessar, who commended him for receiving the Champion of the Earth award from the United Nations for Guyana’s low carbon emission programme.
As Guyana has done, Trinidad and Tobago too is adopting measures to protect the environment, such as the Clean Up and Beautify initiative which the Government launched on June 27, Persad-Bissessar told the leaders.
Stating it was the “largest collaborative effort between government and the private sector ever introduced”, Persad-Bissessar also disclosed plans to introduce tough anti-littering legislation, and again held such programmes up as examples that could be implemented across the Caribbean.
“I long for the day when I can learn of a pan-Caribbean approach within a specific initiative in dealing with environmental issues,” she said, further stating that the resources of the Petroleum Fund should be allocated to promote sustainable development of the region, as well as education. It can also be used to support a Caricom Life Fund, she suggested.
Noting her role as lead Caricom Prime Minister with responsibility for matters relating to Crime and Security, Persad-Bissessar again called for cooperation among states to “strengthen the peace and security of the region”.
“In the Caribbean, guaranteeing public safety cannot be confined to military and police action. The dimensions of criminal activity are increasingly associated with human trafficking, repatriation of deportees, money laundering, the trade of illicit drugs and firearms and other forms of organised crime and terrorism.
“Trinidad and Tobago remains committed to bolstering the security of the region as it is one of the cornerstones which must be strengthened to ensure that the foundation for the collective prosperity of our region remains solid,” she said.
Commending Persad-Bissessar, Prime Minister of Jamaica Bruce Golding said Caricom is fortunate to have her as one of its leaders as the regional body faces a defining moment in its history.
“I want to congratulate her on her historic achievement. My colleague Heads and I look forward to the wisdom which she will bring to our deliberations. Trinidad and Tobago has always played a significant role in Caricom and we have every confidence that it will continue to do so under her leadership.”
Golding thanked Persad-Bissessar for accepting his invitation to remain in Jamaica after the Caricom meeting ends tomorrow for a two-day working visit.
“We have so many things to discuss,” he stated. Persad-Bissessar is expected to discuss the Caribbean Airlines-Air Jamaica arrangement when she meets Golding.
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