Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley is set to host a media conference at 2pm today and UNC MP Dave Tancoo is hoping that he uses the presser to state how many jobs and investments T&T will be receiving as a result of the Caricom-Saudi Arabia summit which he attended last week.
Tancoo stated yesterday that the country requires specifics: jobs, what will be expanded, to what extent, when. No more pie in the sky.”
A joint Caricom-Saudi Arabia statement last Friday stated the two regions agreed on a 15-point declaration of intent on cooperation on various issues—food security, energy and other matters—including Caricom’s support of Saudi Arabia’s bid to host the 2030 World Expo and 2034 World Cup. The United Nations General Assembly votes on November 28 on the Expo host. Saudi Arabia has been lobbying for Caricom support.
Tancoo said: “While Caricom took the time to do its statement, T&T’s leader couldn’t find the time to tell citizens what the trip meant for them, and brief reporters at the airport’s VIP lounge the way he used to on return. As with everything, the Government’s required accounting to the public on return from trips has become less frequent immediately after. One wonders if the PM’s experience in another country’s VIP section has made him fearful of using VIP lounges.”
“The only development regarding a Middle East country we’ve heard of is the Works Ministry’s statement on an air transport agreement which T&T signed with the United Arab Emirates, a country next to Saudi Arabia.