Caricom/US relations will not change – Granger

…Grenadian PM says “wait and see”, uncertainties will clear

As there continues to be speculations about the future of relations between the Caribbean and the United States of America (USA) under the Donald Trump administration, Chairman of the Caribbean Community (Caricom) President David Granger has assured that no change is anticipated in the relations between the Region and the North American country.
Speaking with reporters following the Caricom Inter-sessional Meeting, the Guyanese Leader noted that the Region has a “cordial and respectful” relationship with the US and this is expected to continue under the Trump regime.

“We did take a decision to embark on an engagement with the present (Trump) Administration. So all I can say at this time is that there is no indication that there is going to be any change in Caricom/US relations,” Granger told reporters at the end of two-day confab on Friday.
The Caricom Chairman further pointed out that both the Region and the US enjoy fruitful and mutual benefits from the relation, hence, pasts US Presidents from since the Clinton regime has sought to strengthen ties with the Region.
“We have traditionally been regarded as the fourth frontier of the United States. After the Pacific Frontier, the Canadian Frontier and the Atlantic Frontier, the Caribbean is the fourth Frontier and we are sure that the United States understands the strategic significance of the Caribbean. We appreciate the role of the United States; we have ongoing relationships with the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative, we have trade and other economic relations and we do not anticipate that there is going to be any significant disruption under the new administration,’ Granger explained.
During the two-day confab, the Regional Heads of Government recognised the importance of the recently adopted bipartisan US-Caribbean Strategic Engagement Act of 2016 that seeks to increase US engagement with the governments and civil society of the Region.
Moreover, emphasis was placed on the importance of the long-standing relationship between the Community and the US, particularly in light of the strong family links between its peoples.
To this end, Grenadian Prime Minister, Keith Mitchell, who along with Caricom Secretary General Ambassador Irwin LaRocque, joined President Granger at the press briefing on Friday and pointed out that the recent immigrant directives handed down by President Trump have raised concerns among Caribbean citizens not only here but in the US as well. This situation, he added, will also affect tourism, which is one of the Region’s main economic pillars.
“We are concerned with the recent issue relating to immigration, where a directive was done overnight and the impact on that for us, is an impact on tourism. Because let’s face it, many citizens in the United States who are permanent residences… won’t go anywhere,” he asserted.
Prime Minister Mitchell further posited that the existing uncertainties surrounding the US exists the world over and not just in the Caribbean region. In fact, he noted that even within the US Republican Party, there are some uncertainties. To this end, the Prime Minister noted that the Region needs to adopt a ‘wait and watch’ approach.
“We have to accept that there are uncertainties and therefore, we have to have a wait and see attitude in the Region and the world community at large… So I believe when the dust is settle, things must improve because our borders are too close to the United States for them to risk uncertainty or problems in our direction and so the whole issue of immigration must be seen as crucial also, not just for us but the United States so it must be deal with,” he outlined.
The Grenadian Leader, who will take over the Caricom Chairmanship from President Granger later this year, continued that he is positive the authorities in the US will reciprocate the Caribbean’s willingness to build its relations since, historically, there has been good bilateral collaborations.