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T&T's 'ATM machine' comment irks Patterson
Remark is an insult to Caricom partners, says Opposition
Sunday, July 18, 2010
var addthis_pub="jamaicaobserver";
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC — Former Jamaican prime minister, P J Patterson last week distanced his country from remarks by the new Trinidad and Tobago Government that the island had been used as an "automated teller machine (ATM) card" by Caribbean Community (Caricom) countries.
Patterson, who addressed a forum of business leaders in the oil rich twin-island republic, at which he urged investment in Haiti, told reporters that he disagreed with the view that Port of Spain's generosity had been abused by Caricom members in general.
PATTERSON... no one was left in any doubt (at the summit) that she is committed to the regional process
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PATTERSON... no one was left in any doubt (at the summit) that she is committed to the regional process
1/1 
"I can only speak for Jamaica and I would have to say that we did not line up or benefit from any ATM machine and I confine that remark to Jamaica," he said.
At the recently concluded Caricom heads of government summit in Montego Bay, the Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar told her regional colleagues that there was need for greater accountability and transparency in the Petroleum Fund and the Caricom Development Fund (CDF) - both of which benefit tremendously from funding provided by Port of Spain.
"A lot of money has been shelled out by Trinidad and Tobago (with) no accountability, no transparency...We just cannot continue to do things in that way and each time there is a shortfall we cannot continue like Trinidad and Tobago is an ATM card ...You come in, you put the card there and you come back out with cash. It just cannot happen anymore," Persad-Bissessar declared.
Patterson, who is now the Special Representative of the Caricom governments to Haiti, said that those programmes that had been administered by Caricom "have been done in a manner that always ensures accountability and I think those who have been responsible for the administration of those funds, can, if necessary, or should it be necessary, be called upon to give an account of their stewardship."
Meanwhile, leader of the Opposition People's National Movement (PNM), Dr Keith Rowley described the "ATM" remark by the prime minister as an insult to Caribbean nationals.
"She didn't have to tell them that T&T is not an ATM machine. You see that insult, it is going to cost many of you your jobs," he told a public meeting of the PNM which is campaigning for the local government elections.
But Patterson stayed clear of beating up on Persad-Bissessar, who ousted the PNM in May 24 general elections, saying she has the regional integration movement at heart.
"No one was left in any doubt (at the summit) that she is committed to the regional process. Perhaps her emphasis, as she made it clear, will be somewhat different than those which existed before.
"She said that she wants to concentrate on ensuring that programmes are intended primarily for people in a very real sense, dealing with the vulnerable, the poor, the children and education.
"I think that is something that anybody can appreciate and would welcome at this time," he added.
Persad-Bissessar said that her People's Partnership Government wanted a shift in the current emphasis of the Petroleum Fund that Port of Spain had been funding to assist underdeveloped Caricom countries.
She wanted new emphasis on the environment, education, women and the creation of a Caricom Country Child Life Fund that would include the region's private sector to help provide for children suffering from severe health problems.
Rowley, however, was worried that the T&T prime minister's ATM remark could result in many Caribbean countries ending business with Trinidad and Tobago.
"I know many of you are of the view that the PNM was being excessive when it came to assisting our Caricom neighbours and that former prime minister Patrick) Manning was trying to be Caricom's godfather," Rowley said, noting that the Caribbean was the largest market for local manufacturers.
"Our jobs here are largely dependent on when they buy our products over there. Those of you who travel will know that when you go to Barbados, St Vincent, St Lucia, Antigua, (and) Jamaica, all the shelves are stocked largely with products that say made in T&T," he added.
"As long as those products are made in T&T, it means jobs for the people of T&T, and jobs mean the ability to mind your family. When they cannot buy and we assist them to have an economy to allow them to be able to buy, it is not because we are throwing away T&T money, it is because we are protecting T&T market and our jobs."
Rowley told supporters that when other Caribbean nations "buy our products, especially those who buy our products over buying their own products, as in Barbados and Jamaica, they do us a favour".
He suggested that Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar could have stated quite differently that T&T was not as liquid as it used to be and was no longer in a position to give as much as in the past.
Remark is an insult to Caricom partners, says Opposition
Sunday, July 18, 2010
var addthis_pub="jamaicaobserver";
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC — Former Jamaican prime minister, P J Patterson last week distanced his country from remarks by the new Trinidad and Tobago Government that the island had been used as an "automated teller machine (ATM) card" by Caribbean Community (Caricom) countries.
Patterson, who addressed a forum of business leaders in the oil rich twin-island republic, at which he urged investment in Haiti, told reporters that he disagreed with the view that Port of Spain's generosity had been abused by Caricom members in general.
PATTERSON... no one was left in any doubt (at the summit) that she is committed to the regional process
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PATTERSON... no one was left in any doubt (at the summit) that she is committed to the regional process 1/1 At the recently concluded Caricom heads of government summit in Montego Bay, the Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar told her regional colleagues that there was need for greater accountability and transparency in the Petroleum Fund and the Caricom Development Fund (CDF) - both of which benefit tremendously from funding provided by Port of Spain.
"A lot of money has been shelled out by Trinidad and Tobago (with) no accountability, no transparency...We just cannot continue to do things in that way and each time there is a shortfall we cannot continue like Trinidad and Tobago is an ATM card ...You come in, you put the card there and you come back out with cash. It just cannot happen anymore," Persad-Bissessar declared.
Patterson, who is now the Special Representative of the Caricom governments to Haiti, said that those programmes that had been administered by Caricom "have been done in a manner that always ensures accountability and I think those who have been responsible for the administration of those funds, can, if necessary, or should it be necessary, be called upon to give an account of their stewardship."
Meanwhile, leader of the Opposition People's National Movement (PNM), Dr Keith Rowley described the "ATM" remark by the prime minister as an insult to Caribbean nationals.
"She didn't have to tell them that T&T is not an ATM machine. You see that insult, it is going to cost many of you your jobs," he told a public meeting of the PNM which is campaigning for the local government elections.
But Patterson stayed clear of beating up on Persad-Bissessar, who ousted the PNM in May 24 general elections, saying she has the regional integration movement at heart.
"No one was left in any doubt (at the summit) that she is committed to the regional process. Perhaps her emphasis, as she made it clear, will be somewhat different than those which existed before.
"She said that she wants to concentrate on ensuring that programmes are intended primarily for people in a very real sense, dealing with the vulnerable, the poor, the children and education.
"I think that is something that anybody can appreciate and would welcome at this time," he added.
Persad-Bissessar said that her People's Partnership Government wanted a shift in the current emphasis of the Petroleum Fund that Port of Spain had been funding to assist underdeveloped Caricom countries.
She wanted new emphasis on the environment, education, women and the creation of a Caricom Country Child Life Fund that would include the region's private sector to help provide for children suffering from severe health problems.
Rowley, however, was worried that the T&T prime minister's ATM remark could result in many Caribbean countries ending business with Trinidad and Tobago.
"I know many of you are of the view that the PNM was being excessive when it came to assisting our Caricom neighbours and that former prime minister Patrick) Manning was trying to be Caricom's godfather," Rowley said, noting that the Caribbean was the largest market for local manufacturers.
"Our jobs here are largely dependent on when they buy our products over there. Those of you who travel will know that when you go to Barbados, St Vincent, St Lucia, Antigua, (and) Jamaica, all the shelves are stocked largely with products that say made in T&T," he added.
"As long as those products are made in T&T, it means jobs for the people of T&T, and jobs mean the ability to mind your family. When they cannot buy and we assist them to have an economy to allow them to be able to buy, it is not because we are throwing away T&T money, it is because we are protecting T&T market and our jobs."
Rowley told supporters that when other Caribbean nations "buy our products, especially those who buy our products over buying their own products, as in Barbados and Jamaica, they do us a favour".
He suggested that Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar could have stated quite differently that T&T was not as liquid as it used to be and was no longer in a position to give as much as in the past.
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