KINGSTON, Jamaica — Trinidad and Tobago’s Trade and Industry minister Senator Paula Gopee-Scoon recently reaffirmed her Government’s commitment to treating all Caribbean Community (Caricom) citizens with dignity in a bilateral meeting with Jamaican counterpart Karl Samuda.

The meeting of the two was held during the 42nd Regular Meeting of the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) and the 61st Special COTED Meeting of Trade and Energy Ministers, from April 21-22 in Georgetown, Guyana.

The T&T trade and industry minister gave assurances that her Government would be giving serious consideration to the matter at the Cabinet level.

The issue at hand was the treatment of Jamaicans seeking entry into Trinidad and Tobago. An issue, which a news release from Samuda’s ministry said Thursday, has been the subject of high-level investigations by the Government of Trinidad and Tobago.

Additionally, Minister Gopee-Scoon gave credit to Jamaica’s Minister of Foreign Affair and Foreign Trade Senator Kamina Johnson-Smith, for her proactive engagement with her counterpart T&T Minister of Foreign and Caricom Affairs, Senator Dennis Moses.

Gopee-Scoon also reportedly noted that both ministers have been in almost daily communication in order to ensure a mutually satisfactory resolution to the issue.

The Item — the treatment of Caricom nationals travelling in the region — was placed on the agenda of the 42nd COTED meeting at the request of Jamaica, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade. The item has reportedly been on the agenda of previous COTED meetings.

Samuda, during this gathering of regional trade ministers, emphasised that all nationals had the right to be treated with dignity, befitting citizens of a common community.

Minister Gopee-Scoon indicated to her fellow Caricom trade ministers that Trinidad and Tobago recognised the sensitivity and importance of the issue. She said efforts were being undertaken to ensure fair treatment of Caricom nationals.