As Guyana-Trinidad relations continue downhill since the installation of the PPP into Government, former Finance Minister Winston Jordan believes that Guyana should be grateful to the people of the twin-island Republic for their generosity over the years.
This fracturing of relations between the two countries have been exemplified in recent months by the absence of Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) from February’s International Energy Conference and Expo and prior – a caustic response by former Minister of Health Dr. Leslie Ramsammy to T&T Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley’s assertion that Sputnik-V vaccines acquired by Guyana to fight COVID-19 were not approved by the World Health Organization (WHO). However, it was a statement by 2nd Vice president Jagdeo to rice farmers on the Essequibo Coast recently that may have driven the final nail in the proverbial coffin.
The former President, who has been in the recent past accused of corruption – taking bribes for favors; allegations which he has denied – stated, “Look what’s happening in Trinidad now, Trinidad in falling apart and that putting it mildly, falling apart, no jobs to sustain periods of negative growth, can’t see the light of day, can’t see the light of day for the near future.”
Dr. Rowley, the T&T Prime Minister responding, told reporters that the twin-island Republic has been a good friend to the South American country over the years even choosing to write off billions of dollars in debt owed by Guyana. “We in Trinidad and Tobago are proud to have the records show that as a small developing country, not being a member of the Paris Club, when Guyana sought relief at the Paris Club for debt forgiveness, we in Trinidad and Tobago wrote off billions of Trinidad and Tobago dollars of Guyana debt, he told the press”
He went on to point out that the twin-island Republic took this course of action in the face of international pressures but nevertheless does not hold it as a quid pro quo but as a signal that Trinidad is a friendly cooperating neighbour. Former Finance Minister Winston Jordan in his Public Debt Report for 2019, reported that millions in debt to Guyana’s regional neighbour, T&T had been repaid. According to the Report, Guyana’s debt to T&T had in fact matured, which means the principal became due.
