GEORGETOWN, GUYANA: REGIONAL security and the drug trade were just some of the issues CARICOM faces and must deal with, according to new chair of the regional body, Trinidad PM Patrick Manning.

Manning, meeting with reporters during a visit to Guyana on Tuesday at the new CARICOM headquarters at Liliendaal for the first time as chair of the body, identified the drug trade especially, as one of the urgent issues the 15-member organisation needs to address.

Especially because of the geographic proximity of the region to Colombia; the United States, Canada and Western Europe.

Manning also addressed the recent Petrocaribe oil deal with Venezuela, stating that the deal could push private companies which have stored oil for the region for years, to quit.

And he made it clear that if the Petrocaribe deal fell through, he would not guarantee countries could resume buying oil from Trinidad again. The TnT Head of State also zoned in on the issue of bananas and sugar production, saying Caribbean nations will soon have to abandon the industries in light of competition and lower European Union prices.

And asked about politics closer to home and the resignation of two of his ministers amidst bribery charges, Manning stated: “All persons are innocent until proven guilty,” and added that nothing that has happened so far to suggest guilt.

He also stressed: “What is of significance, though, is the determination of the Government of Trinidad and Tobago to ensure that as we conduct our public affairs we do so in accordance with the highest standards of integrity.”

Guyana’s President, Bharrat Jagdeo, meanwhile, met Manning at the CARICOM Headquarters, Liliendaal and also held discussion with CARICOM Secretary General Edwin Carrington.

Jagdeo acknowledged that the legislation to make Guyana part of the Caribbean Single Market is being delayed.

“There are still some issues to be resolved,” he stated.

“We had difficulties with completing all the drafting.

“So we would probably be delayed a few weeks, maybe a month or two, but I guess for any new arrangement, a few months delay, after waiting a good 15 years is not so fatal.”

CSME seeks to convert its 15-member States into a single market. It is intended to provide an open market without cross-border restrictions and therefore, seeks to facilitate the free movement of final products, goods, labour and services.