PM sees stronger links

RELATIONS between Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago as well as those with Britain should be further enhanced with the recent changes in governments in those respective countries.That’s the word from Prime Minister David Thompson who is in New York where he and wife Mara have been waiting out his periodof medical observation since complaining of severe stomach pains.“Barbados and the region are fortunate to have two new prime ministers, both of whom were on record as expressing a level of commitmentto, and interest in, seeing the islandsof the Caribbean develop and progress,”he said.“In the case of Trinidad and Tobago the new Cabinet there comprises individuals who have been part of the regional economic and political scenefor many years.“Certainly you would recall that in the middle of the campaign, new Finance Minister Winston Dookeran said one of his top priorities would beto work to assist Caricom in realising several of its outstanding goals of economic and social integration,” Thompson said.He added: “I am confident leaders of the coalition government in Britain can be expected to do the same.The West Indian lobby in Great Britain is too influential at this point for any new British administration to do anything less.”With respect to national concerns about his health complaints, Thompson said a formal update would be issued, as promised, in another week – but for now he was “obediently” following the advice of doctors and his dietitian and looks forward to returning to Barbadoson Tuesday, albeit to conduct a much reduced work programme.(CG)