Trinidad and Tobago Holds Bilateral Meeting with Jamaica

TRINIDAD:  April 26, 2016: Senator the Honourable Dennis Moses, Minister of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs, met with Senator the Honourable Kamina Johnson Smith, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of Jamaica, in the margins of the High-level Signing Ceremony for the Paris Agreement, which took place on 22nd April, 2016 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, to discuss the refusal of entry into Trinidad and Tobago of nationals of Jamaica who had travelled to this country on Caribbean Airlines on March 21, 2016 and April 01, 2016.

Minister Moses took the opportunity to inform the Jamaican Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Minister of the robust, transparent system in place at the Piarco International Airport to treat with all incoming passengers. He stoutly countered assertions that nationals of Jamaica were specifically targeted for adverse treatment, stating that there was no evidence to support such a notion.
The Government of Trinidad and Tobago remains guided by the Immigration Act Chapter 18:01 of the Laws of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and undertakings to CARICOM Member States.
The Jamaican Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade expressed her appreciation to Minister Moses for his efforts to clarify the events and his engaged approach with the Jamaican Government to address the matter. Minister Johnson Smith remained concerned about the recent events involving Jamaican nationals, and looked forward to further engagement with the Government of Trinidad and Tobago aimed at achieving a solution beneficial for both countries. The Jamaican Foreign Minister reiterated that her Government did not support the call to boycott Trinidad and Tobago products in Jamaica.
Both Ministers agreed that the close relationship between Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica places this matter of significant importance, and agreed to continue discussions to seek a resolution.