The Movement for National Development (MND) notes with some trepidation, the Caribbean Tourism Organisation's (CTO) concern that recent actions by the American Congress against Caribbean Tourism from the USA, would cause a ‘genuine, economic and social upheaval in the region’ and asks where is the CARICOM foreign policy and specifically that of Trinidad and Tobago is leading?

Recent contradictory actions by this Government send conflicting signals to our main trading partner. It is clear that a nation without any coherent foreign policy cannot hold out any claims to be ‘developed’.  The fact that the rest of the Caribbean is up in arms over some of their own Governments’ apparent support for Venezuela’s Hugo Chavez being a contributory factor in the US congress’s decision on this matter, shows how we seem to like playing with fire! 

The recent launching of a Nuclear Device in North Korea, should at the very least prompt some response from our government, if not outright condemnation. Trinidad may be an island but we are clearly part of the global community and as such we should expect our population to have some view, and most certainly our own Government.

We seem to have no particular view on Terrorism, no particular view on Nuclear Weapons, no particular view on world affairs. Yet For Trinidad and Tobago to survive let alone prosper, we have to understand that we need to work with other parties in the world to develop. We cannot stand alone, nor can we be indifferent to these matters too much longer.

While our Government likes to keep ‘harking back to the old days of slavery and roots etc’ of 50 years ago, the modern world is moving forward and onward - we have to express views which are relevant. Our people no longer want a Government that is backward in its thinking - what about our future? Our people demand all the latest technological gadgets, fast food chains, international music, up to date modern lifestyles consistent with their ambitions - and they want politicians to be relevant, not stuck in some time warp!

People ask who is our Foreign Minister - is he awake??? Is Trinidad and Tobago’s best interest served by sharing a common view with CARICOM partners, or should we go it alone? Where is the political leadership in our Country on these matters? Do we have any foreign policy – if so what is it?