By ROXANNE STAPLETON-WHYMS Thursday, February 21 2008

PRIME MINISTER Patrick Manning yesterday opined that it was not unreasonable to expect the signing of a new fishing agreement between this country and Barbados within a year.

At a press conference at the Diplomatic Centre, St Ann’s, with Barbados Prime Minister David Thompson, Manning said talks between the two states reached the point where it will not be unreasonable to expect a resolution in a year. There has been no agreement in 29 years.

“Reaching an agreement is a priority for me,” Thompson said, especially in light of the importance of Barbados/TT and regional relations.

“There must be a way we can find a solution and in the shortest possible time. Sometimes small issues can inflame national sensitivities to the extent that they then create problems for the bigger things that we want to achieve,” Thompson said.

“And I doubt any of us will want what appear to be issues that are easily solvable and appear to be small to assume a character that is larger than life and then destroy the very trust and relationship that exists between two countries,” he stressed.

He admitted that the issue has created problems. “We have asked a very senior Member of Parliament, Dennis Kelvon who is Barbados’ Caricom Ambassador designate, to take a very frontal lead role in ensuring discussions continue and we can come to some arrangement that is mutually beneficial to the people of Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago,” Thompson added.

Last year, a Hague Arbitration Tribunal rejected Barbadian claims to access TT waters to pursue migratory flying fish.

At yesterday’s press conference, Thompson chuckled, “Neither PM Manning nor I am responsible for where fish travel in the Caribbean and all our fishermen want to do is follow them. You know flying fish is our national dish.”