The Caricom region is a recipient of trade and investment from powers like the United States and China because of its strategic importance, said Edwin Carrington, T&T's ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary to Caricom."No secretary general of the Organization of American States (OAS) ran for election of that post without first checking for Caricom.
"Why? Because Caricom has about 14 of the 34 votes needed for anyone to be elected to that post. When you have a lot of votes, as Caricom as a bloc has, countries will court you," he said.Carrington who is a former secretary general of Caricom spoke to the media yesterday at a seminar on Trade in the Caribbean Region held by the American Chamber of Commerce T&T at the Capital Plaza Hotel, Port-of-Spain.
"The principle of Caricom being sought out by various countries for support and for votes is nothing new or surprising," he said.On Sunday, China announced US$3 billion in concessional financing for eight Caricom countries as China's President Xi Jingping ended his three-day state visit to T&T.The Chinese leader met with leaders of Caricom countries that have diplomatic relations with Beijing rather than Taiwan, which China regards as a renegade province.
Dominica's Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit last weekend said the financing comes at a time when "the Caribbean and indeed the world is challenged with all sorts of economic and fiscal issues."Responding to questions about China's US$3 billion in concessional financing to these countries, Carrignton said he is not sure how that loan will be divided among the countries."As I understand it, it is a soft loan and secondly, I am not surprised that countries with diplomatic relations with Taiwan rather than China are not involved.
"I am not even sure how the resources are going to be shared up among those that have relations with China. I am not very well informed about this," he said.When asked if Caricom should be "wary" of gifts and aid from large powers, he said the reality is that small Caribbean countries must always be careful of this."We must always be wary of external or internal help from other countries," he said.
