Monday, November 8, 2010

Trinidad PM Comments Trigger Boycott by West Indian Countries

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Trinidad Prime Minister Comments Trigger Boycott by West Indian Countries


Some dumb comments by the prime minister of Trinidad and Tobago are triggering a boycott of products from T&T by people from West Indian nations.

All images of Caribbean unity were shattered when T&T Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar said earlier this week that her twin-island nation would have to get some benefit if it were to help neighbors hurt by Hurricane Tomas.

Barbados, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and St. Lucia are the nearby West Indian countries that suffered damage from Tomas and thus far, none of those governments have signed on to boycott products of Trinidad and Tobago.

But citizens of those countries are burning up the social network sites of Facebook and Twitter with messages encouraging a boycott of products from T&T.

"Seriously, that was simply heartless and plain selfish!!! We need to show her what can happen when serious, God-fearing and caring people unite," wrote one Facebook poster from St. Lucia, according to the Go-Jamaica news website.

Persad-Bissessar's comments were haughty and beneath what the people of T&T should expect from a government official. And it is good that people from other local islands are putting her feet to the fire with the threat of a boycott.

But in reality, the comments mean little.

Trinidad and Tobago and 14 neighboring nations make up the regional partnership in the region, the Caribbean Community and Common Market (Caricom). The countries in the partnership work together on export, service and manufacturing regulation in the region.

It would be tough, if not impossible, for one or more Caricom nations to suffer the devastating effects of a storm and partner Caricom nations to stand by and do nothing. It is in T&T's long-term economic interest to make sure its neighbors are doing well economically and socially.

As frustrating and anger-producing as they were, the comments by Persad-Bissessar are like a loud wind blowing in a cave. They produce some noise and little else.


 

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Source: http://www.bvblackspin.com/2010/11/04/trinidad-pm-comments-trigger-boycott-by-west-indian-countries/

CHRISTOPHER COX CHRISTOPHER DODD CHRISTOPHER HILL CHUCK DEVORE

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