Shortly before he departed yesterday for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Conference (CHOGM) which begins in Malta on Friday, Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley called on T&T’s security forces to redouble their efforts to protect citizens in the wake of possible terror threats by ISIS.
Speaking during a news media briefing at Piarco International Airport before flying out on the 12-day trip, his first official visit out of the country since becoming prime minister last September, Dr Rowley urged citizens to be vigilant in the face of global security concerns.
“The simplest advice I can give is to be vigilant and we call on our security services, whose job it is to secure us, to redouble their efforts to make sure that we don’t fall prey to those who set out to harm us,” he said. He added that the current security concern “is a very unusual development in the history of mankind but these are the times in which we live.”
Finance Minister Colm Imbert will act as prime minister during Dr Rowley’s absence. The Prime Minister is being accompanied to Malta by Foreign and Caricom Affairs Minister Dennis Moses. PNM deputy political leader Rohan Sinanan will replace Moses in the Senate during the period.
Dr Rowley said he is attending the CHOGM meeting in Malta “while there is some trepidation in that area that we hold ourselves out in the hands of the security services and the people of Malta and Britain.”
Commenting on the recent attacks in Paris which claimed 129 lives, Dr Rowley said that incident “shows that notwithstanding our best efforts, persons can get at us in a variety of ways.”
He said there are challenging times ahead for the security services but added: “We cannot cave in to those who would have us respond in that kind of way. Across the world today, national security and the safety of citizens appear to be the number one priority for governments, while this phenomenon continues to flourish.”
The Prime Minister said security must be “very challenging for the organisers” of CHOGM which will be attended by the leaders of 53 of the 54 Commonwealth members states, as well as head of the Commonwealth, Queen Elizabeth II. The conference takes place November 27 to 29.
“We trust that all is in place to secure us,” he added.
Dr Rowley said he is not aware of any communications from the US or UK regarding recent posting on social media about T&T nationals in ISIS videos and both nations continue to communicate with T&T about international security matters.
On Imbert’s acting appointment, Dr Rowley said he is most experienced in minister in Government and parliament and he is confident he will do a good job.
During his visit, which is expected to cost just over $1 million, the Prime Minister is expected to attend a dinner hosted by the Queen. He is also due to address a business forum prior to CHOGM, where he will speak on T&T’s energy initiatives and will participate in several meeting relating to climate change while in Malta.
Dr Rowley will meet with T&T nationals in London on November 30 and is due to hold talks with top BP officials about some “meaty issues” while in the UK city. NGC chairman Gerry Brooks will join Dr Rowley for that meeting in London on December 3.
The Prime Minister said he agrees with the decision by the new National Gas Company board to suspend salary increases and bonuses for employees for 2015/16.
“The board is proceeding in a very sensible way to confront the issues at NGC and what we are seeing there is a responsible way to deal with changes in our environment.” Dr Rowley said NGC is a major contributor to the national treasury and a major national effort in the hydro carbon sector which Government relies on heavily.
“If things are not going well at NGC it behoves us to take the required rectification,” he said, adding that while nobody likes be denied increases in bonuses, “the most important thing before us as a people is trying to maintain the gains that we have made.”
“Given where were are, in terms of our ability to spend in the face of reduced revenues, I think that the actions of the board were quite reasonable and I trust that the employees and the union will understand and see it as not anything punitive but as a sensible way to preserve out population as we go forward,” he said.