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KINGSTON, Jamaica, Jul 19 2016 – Jamaica’s Prime Minister Andrew Holness Monday held talks with his Trinidad and Tobago counterpart, Dr. Keith Rowley, on a number of issues aimed at improving the bilateral relations between the two Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries.
“We had a very good meeting and I am pleased to report that we made significant progress. There are issues of course that we will still have to discuss…but in general Prime Minister Rowley and myself have developed a very good friendship and understanding,” Holness told reporters at a brief joint news conference.
Rowley, who is leading a six member-delegation to the talks here, said he wanted to “endorse “ what Holness said about the outcome of Monday’s deliberations and that he is confident that the foundation has been laid for improved relations.
Holness described the agenda as being “a very heavy” one and that “many of the items discussed require us to do even more work.
“We discussed issues having to do with the CSME (CARICOM Single Market and Economy), we discussed issues having to do with energy, issues to do with the free movement of labour.
“We will conclude many of those discussions on Thursday. We will have a full statement and sit down with the press to answer your questions,” Holness promised.
Rowley arrived here on Sunday on a four-day visit overshadowed by Kingston’s continued concerns at the treatment of its nationals on arrival in his oil-rich twin island republic.
On the eve of his arrival, Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Minister Kamina Johnson Smith told the Senate that at least 320 Jamaicans were denied entry into the sister CARICOM country last year, while only two Trinidad and Tobago nationals were denied entry during the same period.
She said that between January and June this year, Trinidadian authorities denied entry to 230 Jamaicans and were on track to deny up to two per cent of Jamaicans who sought entry.
But Johnson Smith said the trend is changing following the intervention of the Jamaican government in March after Port of Spain denied entry to nearly a dozen Jamaicans.
Johnson Smith and her Trinidad and Tobago counterpart, Dennis Moses, later told reporters that significant progress has been made in ironing out concerns related to immigration issues.
According Johnson Smith, as promised, immigration officials at the Piarco International Airport in Trinidad will complete their first phase of training on Tuesday.
“They have undergone five days of training to ensure that the entire cohort will be upgraded in ensuring the customer experience at the Piarco Airport will be an improved one. They will continue to work on this and CARICOM has also ensured that across the region, that there will be continued phases of training for immigration officers.”
Moses added that the training will be ongoing at all levels for immigration officers in the twin island republic.
“That training will involve 20 to 30 persons per day and also there will be in excess of 100 persons trained, including supervisors….this is a positive development based on the commitments made,” he said.
Johnson Smith thanked Moses, saying that it’s a mark of good faith when countries agree to solve issues.
She made reference to the role her counterpart played in ensuring that the process were expedited and blockages were removed to ensure that 15 Jamaicans who were detained in the twin island republic recently returned to Jamaica.
“A further 26 have completed their special enquiry process and will return to Jamaica in the soonest order,” she said, adding “when policies are made and are kept, we must recognise the good faith that comes with it”.
She noted that Moses “kept his word” in committing to training the officers and providing facilities to ensure that persons who are not permitted to enter, have dignified accommodations “these were not just words … this bodes well for out path of partnership moving forward”.
