Foreign Affairs Minister tells missions: Help nationals more

MINISTER of Foreign and Caricom Affairs Dr Amery Browne said he wants TT’s diplomatic missions to be more helpful to nationals stranded overseas during the covid19 pandemic.

But he also hailed the efforts of those mission and ministry staff who had caught the virus in service to country.

Speaking in the Senate budget debate on Friday, he again said the Government was extending financial help to stranded citizens up to year-end. He was speaking the day after Cabinet approved US$1 million in relief funds.

“The Government is mindful of the plight of citizens abroad. We know the sacrifices have been many and we are mobilising more relief.

“I have personally written to each overseas mission of this country, to be more accessible, to be more generous, and admonish them to be more open to rendering as much assistance as is possible, because that is what is required.”

He listed the ways the missions help citizens overseas.

Browne said his ministry is drafting new guidelines on how missions should help people, with this exercise funded in the Public Sector Investment Programme (PSIP.)

“Sad to say, we have had several infections among our staff both at headquarters and overseas. We have had several infections among staff at our overseas missions.

"Thank God they’re all alive and doing well, even those who were infected by covid. Just another example of the sacrifice our citizens are making in service to the people of TT.”