Trinidad and Tobago PM Dr Keith Rowley meets US VP Kamala Harris

Dr Keith Rowley, Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, joined other regional leaders at a meeting with United States Vice President – Kamala Harris on 15th September 2022 (Thursday) in Washington, DC.

The CARICOM leaders had open discussions with VP Harris on the topics of finance, energy security as well as food security, all of which are closely integrated.

The potential of the hydrocarbon resources in the region was discussed with a focus on how these resources can be part of the solution to the current global difficulties concerning energy security.

During the IX Summit of the Americas in Los Angeles, California, in June, the US, CARICOM and the Dominican Republic agreed to the establishment of three High-Level Action Committees to develop near-term solutions to three challenges in the region.
Since June, nearly a dozen technical and high-level meetings have been held to formulate energy security, finance and food security action plans.

Today’s meeting also focused on reviewing progress to date in these critical action areas.

Concerning energy security, the US Government has committed to developing technical assistance packages to prepare viable energy projects that are attractive to investors, hosting an energy procurement orientation visit and a regional trade mission for Caribbean officials.

Prime Minister Rowley, the co-chair of the energy security committee, was accompanied by Stuart Young – Minister of Energy and Energy Industries and Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister, to the meeting.

CARICOM leaders represented the Caribbean community at the meeting, President of Suriname Chandrikapersad Santokhi, Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Amor Mottley, co-chair of the finance committee; Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali – President of Guyana, co-chair of the food security committee.

President Luis Abinader of the Dominican Republic also attended the meeting.

PM Rowley and Minister Young met with US Deputy Secretary of Energy at the US Department of Energy – David Turk, to progress discussions related to the energy sector of Trinidad and Tobago.