Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo yesterday said his recent statements positing that Trinidad and Tobago is “falling apart” was based on economic reality and not intended as an attack on its Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley, the country or its people.
“The fact is Trinidad – and this is indisputable – that its economy is reliant on one sector- the oil and gas sector. That is a fact. I have had discussions with several leaders there about a post-oil and gas economy, so this has nothing to do with Rowley, this has to do with the economy in T&T going for a long period only relying on one sector,” Jagdeo yesterday told a press conference.
He said that the state of Trinidad’s economy, which shows evidence of the Dutch Disease, is not just pointed out by him, but is evidence-based.
“If you look at the newspapers in Trinidad and Tobago, every day you will see them saying they are having currency problems, currency shortages. And it is a fact that they have had a long period of low growth. Yes, COVID has exacerbated it but before COVID, it is fact. So what I am saying is not anything new.”
During his recent outreach in Essequibo, Jagdeo told residents that government will invest some of the monies from its oil and gas resources in infrastructure and other sectors in order to ensure a diversified economy.
“We will invest some of the oil and gas resources into building the infrastructure so that non-oil and gas, in the future, can generate the jobs. If we don’t do that when this oil money goes we will, like many countries in the world. Look at what is happening in Trinidad now. Trinidad is falling apart and that is putting it mildly. No jobs to sustain areas… negative growth, can’t see the light of day for the near future…,” Jagdeo said.
The Trinidad Guardian yesterday reported that the country’s Foreign Affairs Minister Amery Browne has spoken with Guyana’s Foreign Affairs Minister Hugh Todd about the incident.
Jagdeo said that Todd has not informed him of the call but he has had other calls from persons in Trinidad since his comments have now gone viral. He said that many agreed with his position and he also wanted to clear the air and give clarification to what is being discussed, although he knows his most recent views will start another debate.
“I have had a lot of calls from Trinidadians, too, who say we agree with you. I have tracked what is going on in T&T for a long time. It’s not anything new. Every day it is being said; by common people and the people who come here in the private sector…”
Jagdeo recalled reading a T&T budget sometime back where it was reported that they had a loss of “80% of their revenue when the price of oil dropped.”
He said that it is difficult to cope with such exigencies and “things will fall apart whether you like it or not”.
The Vice President noted that while persons will feel attacked because of his comments based on an analysis, Trinidadian politicians have said disparaging things about this country and Guyanese have long suffered humiliation when travelling to the twin island.
“They talk about the fact that we are undemocratic and if they don’t [be] careful they would go the Guyana route and I did not raise an issue because it is true, many of the things they spoke about, that our democracy was challenged. So I don’t know if they have a problem with truth – the economy in Trinidad is undiversified, it relies heavily on oil and gas. I spoke about when the prices fall things start to fall apart and they are facing some of those consequences now,” Jagdeo contended.
He pointed out that Guyana and Guyanese would never treat migrants or visitors in any condescending way because Guyana’s people have experienced hardships and felt the brunt of embarrassment by regional sister countries as “we suffered a long time the indignity”.
However, citizens here are grateful for the help and he hopes that God blesses the people that treated Guyanese well and “punish those treated us badly.” Further, if a survey was conducted to ask Guyanese in which airport “they are treated worst in the world, the answer will be a resounding Trinidad and Tobago. This comes across for everybody.”
“We are grateful to those countries who treated them well. We have an obligation to treat migrants particularly from Venezuela with decency….They are fleeing hardships.”
He pointed to CARICOM and the Treaty of Chaguaramas, saying that this country will uphold the treaty and is grateful to be a part of the regional body.
“We have a treaty obligation. We are a member of CARICOM and we want to be a member of CARICOM. Caricom is a valuable part of our family so we will uphold out treaty obligation,” Jagdeo emphasised.
But this country will not be bullied into seeing its people here marginalized in their homeland over foreigners.
“One thing that won’t happen is that we won’t be bullied,” he declared.
“…But somehow they believe they have a god given right to displace Guyanese too in our own country from our own resources and we are not going to standby, in the PPP, and allow that to happen. We are not going to. I don’t care who cusses me… I know we won’t discriminate against Trinidad and Tobago. We are grateful to the support given to our people, the people are welcomed here but they have to come in partnership with our people. Sometimes in our own country we are treated like second-class citizens. Their attitude has to change in regards to Guyanese. We have suffered a long time in regards to our dignity,” the Vice president said.
And while a mountain of criticisms may come against him for standing up for his people, he said he doesn’t “lose much sleep once Guyanese are moving forward. It is not hostile or xenophobic. I just don’t worry.”
