Indian diplomat’s close proximity with opposition might weaken bilateral ties with TT

Trinidad and Tobago: Diplomacy is an area of speciality in international relations that focuses on inter-governmental relations between countries aimed to advance national interests. Trinidad and Tobago is witnessing something different, where Indian diplomat is more closer to the leader of opposition than the head of the government.

Sources revealed that the absence of a good relationship between the government and the Indian High Commission in the country is severely affecting the bilateral relations between the two countries.

On condition of anonymity, an official source in the government of Trinidad and Tobago revealed that several senior Ministers in the government are not happy with the current High Commissioner of the country. Source added that there have been many instances of the High Commissioner helping the opposition in its propaganda against the government.

“Recently, on the suggestion of High Commissioner, opposition leader Kamla Persad Bissessar wrote a letter to the government of India seeking supply of vaccines while accusing the government of failing to procure the same.” revealed the source.

According to law, it is the responsibility of the High Commissioner to explore all the possible ways to provide assistance to the country where he/she is posted. Instead of advising Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley to write a letter seeking vaccine to the Government of India, HC Arun Kumar Sahu allegedly reached out to the opposition.

Allegedly, the government of Trinidad and Tobago made several attempts to secure vaccines, but to give political milage to Kamla, the supply of vaccines were delayed for days. On February 15, 2021, Health Minister Terrence Dyalsingh and Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Amery Browne reached out to the Indian High Commissioner individually to explore the possibilities of procuring vaccines from India. Allegedly, they both were left confused as the diplomat did not describe the appropriate way that how the government could reach out to the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Notably, on March 22, the High Commission of India released a statement to support the repeated attacks of the opposition against the government in relation to the procurement of the COVID-19 vaccines. The statement indirectly supported the allegations of the opposition United National Congress (UNC), which is functioning under the leadership of Kamla Persad- Bissessar. High Commissioner stated in the letter, “Even though it is very late, T&T may like to make a request for a donation at a suitable level.

“Keeping in view the long-standing historical, cultural and people to people contacts between India and Trinidad and Tobago, efforts are being made to supply some vaccines to Trinidad and Tobago. However, no timeframe could be indicated at this stage,” the High Commissioner said.

It was nowhere that High Commissioner Arun K Sahu had supported the government in any cause. Clearly, the HC released the statement in action to boost the opposition in the country.