Foreign Affairs Minister Dr Surujrattan Rambachan says there are T&T nationals currently in Japan who prefer to stay there to "help" the country in its rebuilding process rather than return home.He was speaking with reporters Monday at the signing of a framework agreement for a concessional loan between the People's Republic of China and the T&T Government at the International Waterfront Centre, Wrightson Road, Port-of-Spain.Japan suffered a devastating 8.9 magnitude earthquake on March 11 which triggered a tsunami and claimed the lives of over 10,000 people.
In his response to questions about the return of nationals from Japan, Rambachan said he was both moved and proud at the "caring" and "compassionate" response from citizens of T&T."The commitment that I've read in the e-mails sent to me by our nationals in Japan, really moves you as a person... to think that we have nationals who have gone to work in a country but refuse because of a crisis, to turn their back on that country," he said."That tells me about me about our spirit and of the soul of T&T, that we are a caring people."Rambachan added that while T&T's help (aid relief) to Japan was a "continuing discussion" and a figure could not be disclosed at this time, the public can rest assured it is something the government is currently "working on."