The International Relations Department of the United National Congress is supporting comments made by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar regarding assistance to neighbouring Caribbean nations following the passage of Tropical Storm Tomas. International relations officer Shane Mohammed, in a media release, said the events and devastation which occurred during the passage of the storm were unfortunate and "placed our Caricom brothers and sisters in a very traumatising state."
Mohammed said it must be noted, however, that T&T also was experiencing an economic lull, "thus the reason for the Prime Minister to approach foreign investors to come to T&T."He stated for many years T&T had been the "goodwill ambassador of the Caribbean" and while the nation's giving had benefited Caribbean counterparts, "our own people have had to suffer from the same disadvantages that plagued our neighbours."
Mohammed said plans by Caribbean nationals to boycott products made in T&T were unfortunate and indicated that "our brothers and sisters do not understand or are not aware that T&T must be in a position to provide for its own household firstly and comfortably, before it extends a handout to others." He hoped the Caribbean recognised the importance of T&T benefiting from either labour, materials and skill, since parts of the country also had been severely affected by the passage of Tomas.
He said: "The United National Congress and its international department fully support the Prime Minister's stance and call upon our Caricom brothers and sisters to understand T&T's positions, especially at a time when nations across the world are still struggling with the global financial crisis."