Warner defends PM's hurricane aid-for-trade statement

Acting Prime Minister Austin 'Jack' Warner on Wednesday defended statements made by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar that Port-of-Spain would provide aid to hurricane-battered Eastern Caribbean countries on the basis that businesses in the oil-rich country would benefit.

"What is so wrong and/or inappropriate with the prime minister's statements that seek to ensure that Trinidad and Tobago benefits from any investments or assistance provided to our Caribbean nations," Warner said to reporters.

"There have to be returns to the people. The prime minister's statement, therefore, I am saying is not insensitive. The statement is not breeding insularity. The statement is putting everyone on notice that you cannot be brothers and sisters only when they are in need and strangers when the going is good."

Persad-Bissessar told reporters on Monday that while Trinidad was still awaiting official requests from the governments in Barbados, St Vincent and St Lucia, two containers would be sent to Castries and Kingstown.

But she made it clear that Port-of-Spain, in giving assistance, would be doing so on the basis that businesses in her country would benefit.

"So if it is that we are giving assistance for housing - and that was one of the issues (Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves of St Vincent) spoke about - so many houses damaged - he was seeking assistance with respect to that, then we may be able to use Trinidad and Tobago builders and companies," she said.

"Also, whatever money and assistance is given will come back in some measure to the people of Trinidad and Tobago."

Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley criticised the prime minister's position, saying he "totally reject this backward, colonial policy" and would "have nothing to do with such discussions or concept wherein humanitarian relief from the people of Trinidad and Tobago to CARICOM is tied to conditionalities of self-interest as outlined by the prime minister".

Rowley said that the prime minister recently insulted CARICOM recipients of Trinidad economic support when she told them Trinidad "was not an ATM machine to which they can simply queue up and obtain money".