Manning holds talks with Cheney
Monday, July 3 2006
Deportees, Caricom oil deal on the list
"Taken from our P O L I T I C S section.
The arrival of deportees from the United States without links in TT or adequate background information was discussed at a meeting last Thursday between Prime Minister Patrick Manning and US vice-president Dick Cheney at the White House, Washington.
The topic of deportees came up as PM Manning spoke about TT’s reliance on the US for the export of LNG methanol and ammonia and the number of US-based companies doing business in TT “with the attendant security issues involved.”
A press statement from the Office of the Prime Minister yesterday said the meeting took approximately 35 minutes and covered a wide range of issues.
Manning briefed Cheney on TT’s economy with emphasis on the emergence of TT as a growing economic giant in the Caribbean.
Special emphasis was placed on stemming the illicit drug-trafficking trade and the need for appropriate arrangements to be implemented in the Eastern Caribbean countries to stamp out the problem.
Manning “reiterated his Government’s determination to make TT a beacon of integrity in the region as evidenced by the current prosecutions before the courts” and thanked the US authorities “for their assistance and cooperation to facilitate this.”
The statement said discussion also focused on the non-oil sector in relation to goods packaged in TT to be permitted duty-free access upon entry into the US, and the need for improved economic arrangements between the US and Caricom countries which need assistance.
Manning explained the arrangements with the Petro Caribe initiative and its impact on Caricom countries. It was agreed that matters requiring follow-up action would be pursued by officials of both Governments.
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