Ramsamooj: PM’s ‘Trump-like’ Caricom stance overplays its power

Political analyst Derek Ramsamooj says Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar must abandon what he described as her “Trump-like” and egotistical approach to Caricom and accept that Trinidad and Tobago is no longer the regional superpower it once was.

Speaking on CNC3’s The Morning Brew, Ramsamooj argued that CARICOM can adjust its budget without Trinidad and Tobago’s support, warning that it is this country that stands to lose more if the Persad-Bissessar administration continues to widen the rift with the regional bloc.

Addressing the current impasse between the T&T Government and CARICOM over the handling of the election of Secretary General Dr Carla Barnett, Ramsamooj said threatening to withdraw funding due to a disagreement is out of the Donald Trump playbook.

“It is unfortunate that the Prime Minister chose to adopt a Trump-like position when it comes to institutions of raising the issue of money and raising the issue of withdrawing those funds,” he posited.

According to the government, T&T contributes almost $127 million annually to Caricom.

However, Ramsamooj said Caricom will not crumble if that financing is withdrawn.

“We must recognise that the Caribbean economy has changed, and people like Guyana and Suriname and I daresay other small islands are having greater economic success than was previously held when you had these financial arrangements.”

He added, “So I don’t really believe Caricom is going to miss much of the 20%. They will make the adjustments, and you have the economy, but can Trinidad afford any form of trade restrictions when it comes to making their commodities expensive?”

The political analyst believes that the government is overestimating T&T’s strength.

“But the reality is you can no longer do that because the other elements of the Caribbean economy are growing at a much stronger rate. Guyana is basically running at about 8% minimum. Suriname is going to quickly catch up to that. So we are no longer the powerhouse.”

He said if T&T’s government cannot afford to continue paying its share to Caricom due to internal revenue issues, then it should just so.

“This notion about Trinidadians believing that they are the economic powerhouse, you used to be the economic powerhouse. And therefore, if you’re saying you want to reduce your expenditure in Caricom because your economy cannot afford it, then simply say so. But don’t look for an excuse”

Ramsamooj underscored that the entire fallout with Caricom is to, “demonstrate a political ego that is larger than life, but short in reality.”

“We must also recognise that there are a number of international positions, one of which I believe Trinidad is looking to acquire and would require Caricom’s support. So the endgame perhaps will be one to use perceived influence to get the way that is favourable to Trinidad and Tobago.”

Ramsamooj is concerned that the Persad-Bissessar administration is seeking to turn this country into another state within the United States of America.

“Because that’s what is coming over. That we want to affix ourselves to United States, lose our national identity, lose our sense of pride in our people and our economy by saying we have to go cap in hand, begging, following the policy of Donald Trump? Not the United States of Donald Trump. It’s a Trumpism that she is attempting to practise in the region.”