On December 10, U.S. Ambassador Candace Bond and U.S. Navy Admiral Alvin Holsey, commander of U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), met with Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley and other government ministers for discussions on security, energy, cybersecurity, and human rights cooperation at the Diplomatic Center, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago.
At the meeting, Ambassador Bond, Adm. Holsey, and Prime Minister Rowley celebrated the successful conclusion of negotiations on a Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA), which will facilitate interoperability between the two countries’ armed forces; the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative Technical Assistance Field Team (CBSI-TAFT); and the Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA). Ambassador Bond and Adm. Holsey also congratulated Prime Minister Rowley for Trinidad and Tobago’s accession to the Treaty of San José and the SOUTHCOM Human Rights Initiative (HRI).
Trinidad and Tobago is the 14th country to join the initiative. SOUTHCOM’s Human Rights Office implemented the HRI in 1997. Signatories are committed to implementing human rights programs in their defense or public institutions.
“Trinidad and Tobago’s leadership in implementing this framework for security cooperation demonstrates its potential as the cornerstone of peace and security in the Caribbean and has opened the door to unprecedented and unequalled opportunities for defense cooperation between Trinidad and Tobago and the United States,” Ambassador Bond said.
“The United States is committed to providing expertise and resources to enhance Trinidad and Tobago’s security capabilities, and these agreements deepen strategic collaboration on a host of issues,” said Adm. Holsey.
Minister of Energy and Energy Resources Stuart Young, Minister of National Security Fitzgerald Hinds, and Minister of Finance Colm Imbert also attended the meeting.
Adm. Holsey visited Trinidad and Tobago for key leadership engagements and to co-host the Caribbean Nations Security Conference (CANSEC).
