Trinidad and Tobago, India meeting after weeks of controversy: TENSIONS EASE

THERE has been a significant easing of diplomatic tensions between this country and India following a meeting on Monday of Foreign and Caricom Affairs Minister Dr Amery Browne and India’s High Commissioner to TT, Arun Kumar Sahu.

Contacted for comment, Minister Browne said that arising out of the high-level diplomatic meeting was a re-focus on productive engagement between the two countries.

The meeting, held at Browne’s ministry in St Clair, came as he sought to end controversy surrounding requests for India to donate covid19 vaccines to TT. Browne said the meeting was productive and the matter of vaccines was discussed thoroughly.

At the end of the meeting, Sahu and Browne, in a joint release, said there was consensus that the two countries would work even more closely together on access to vaccines, as well as several other matters of interest. Contacted for further comment, Browne told Newsday via WhatsApp that there were discussions aimed at putting a framework together for additional collaboration between the two countries.

“I broached the prospect of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the two nations that would focus on pharmaceutical collaboration, in addition to several other areas of expansion for our bilateral agenda.

The High Commissioner was open to such possibilities and committed to engaging in the relevant consultations with his capital.”

The Indian High Commission, in an e-mail to Newsday, said other sectors of interest identified for the enhancement of the bilateral co-operation between TT and India were pharmaceuticals and health care; information and communication technology (ICT); information technology enabled services (ITES); renewable energy; agriculture and agro-biotechnology; new energy (wind and solar), tourism, including medical tourism; textiles and garments; higher education; automobiles; ayurveda and wellness; and films, music and entertainment. The release said the meeting was held in the best interests of the long-standing ties that bind the two nations and there were very candid, friendly and comprehensive discussions on the bilateral relationship.

The meeting came after several weeks of controversy as to whether India would be donating vaccines to TT through its Vaccine Maitri initiative, as has happened with other Caribbean countries, as well as continuing attempts by the government to buy vaccines from the Serum Institute of India.

The Prime Minister said on Thursday he was not aware of the Vaccine Maitri initiative until he was told about it by local doctors and businessmen. Dr Rowley said he was accused of not moving to get TT’s share of some 500,000 vaccines donated by India to Caricom, of which he is the current chairman. But, he said, the Government communicated directly with India and there was no confirmation of 500,000 vaccines being available, nor was TT invited to be a part of any free vaccine distribution programme.

In a release on Sunday, the High Commission said TT could still get a donation of vaccines from India, but no time frame could be indicated. It said Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh and Browne contacted Sahu separately on February 15 to explore the possibility of getting vaccines from India.

Sahu conveyed “two clear options” to both, it said, which were that TT could request a donation from the Indian Government, “for which a request at the highest level to (Indian Prime Minister Narendra) Modi might be considered,” or TT could explore a commercial purchase directly from the Serum Institute of India (SII).

The release said in a commercial deal, the Indian Government’s role would be minimal and it would only facilitate export approval. But, it said, the foreign office told Sahu the institute was not taking any commercial orders at that time and his assistance was sought in getting some vaccine donations. It said Sahu suggested even though it was very late, TT could make a request for a donation at a suitable level, and was told a letter would be sent.

The meeting between Browne and Sahu came a week after Dr Rowley had a virtual meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping at which the issue of covid19 vaccines was also discussed and China gave a commitment to donate Sinopharm vaccines.