T&T PM intervenes in dispute with Jamaica: Rowley set to visit ‘soon’

In media reports on Monday, it was outlined that Dr Rowley plans to pay an official visit to Jamaica “in the not too distant future”, to address the now long-running issues.

In March, Trinidad and Tobago’s immigration authorities barred several Jamaicans from entering the republic, on the basis that they could not show proof of being able to sustain themselves while in the republic. The issue, which followed similar cases before, prompted some Jamaicans to call for a boycott of Trinidadian products.

According to the Trinidad Guardian, at least one Trinidadian manufacturer eventually had goods pulled by a supermarket owner in Jamaica.

Dr Rowley is reported as having told a news conference on Saturday that there is a sentiment being fuelled in Jamaica that its nationals are not welcomed in Trinidad and Tobago.

Dr Rowley reportedly denied the assertion, and indicated that he addressed the matter directly with Jamaica’s Prime Minister Andrew Holness while attending the Summit of the Association of Caribbean States in Havana, Cuba last week..

According to Dr Rowley, PM Holness agreed that the time had come for the dispute to be put to bed by the voice of Trinidad and Tobago speaking directly to the people of Jamaica.

Dr Rowley said, while in Cuba, he had an extensive meeting with Holness, Jamaica’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Kamina Johnson-Smith, and Attorney General, Marlene Malahoo-Forte.

The Jamaicans, according to Dr Rowley, accepted Trinidad and Tobago’s position that there is no policy of discrimination against Jamaicans in the twin-island republic.

No statement on the meeting and discussions with the Trinidadian Prime Minister has so far come from the Jamaican Government.