Trinidad and Tobago: Keith Rowley condemns illegal trafficking of people and goods

Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago: Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago and Chairman of CARICOM Dr. Keith Rowley delivered a statement at the 32nd Intersessional Meeting of the CARICOM Heads of Government on Wednesday.He acknowledged the generosities of the government of Dominica and Barbados for aiding Trinidad and Tobago with COVID-19 vaccines that the countries received from India.PM Keith Rowley shared his gratitude to the government of India and the African Union for providing access to the vaccines. READ MORE NEWS HEREHe stated that the pandemic pressed significant economic fallout, stagnation, and decline all across the global economy. PM stated that Trinidad and Tobago had achieved relative success in the fight against COVID-19, as one of the region's most vulnerable to the virus, especially when travel bans have had on tourism services the area are taken into consideration.He added that the tourism sector assists in the survival of CARICOM states, and coronavirus pandemic has impacted the sector as borders remained closed for a long time.READ MORE NEWS HERE "This year, as the Community commemorates the twentieth anniversary of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas, which established the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME), we must continue to advance and strengthen the integration process and harness the CSME to propel our economic recovery and build back better."Furthermore, he stated that the early distribution of coronavirus vaccine in the region had given some hope after one year of the pandemic. PM Rowley stated that the pandemic had changed the way of life all across the world, and people are now getting out of the new normal at some point. READ MORE NEWS HEREDiscussing other issues impacting the CARICOM community, he stated that illicit trafficking of persons and goods is a threat to law enforcement and security. "The illicit activities and the violence further intensify insecurity throughout the region," added Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago.