00:00Prime Minister Kamala Persaud-Besessa says that for two and a half centuries, America has helped shape the modern world
00:07through its pioneering spirit of innovation, enterprise and education.
00:12In wishing the U.S. happy 250th anniversary on behalf of the government and people of Trinidad and Tobago, Prime
00:19Minister Persaud-Besessa said that today, America is Trinidad and Tobago's largest trading partner, one of our largest sources of
00:27foreign direct investment and a deeply valued partner in energy, education, innovation and national security.
00:34The Prime Minister said the relationship between the U.S. and Trinidad and Tobago stretches back well over a century
00:40through commerce, investment and the development of Trinidad's petroleum industry in which American enterprise played an important role.
00:49Prime Minister Persaud-Besessa said that during the Second World War, those ties deepened under the 1940 Destroyers for Basis
00:56Agreement and that those wartime years accelerated industrial and economic development, expanded infrastructure and strengthened the bonds between our peoples.
01:06According to the Prime Minister, those long-standing links evolved into a formal partnership following Trinidad and Tobago's independence in
01:131962.
01:14Prime Minister Persaud-Besessa said, quote, recent high-level engagement has reaffirmed our shared commitment to deeper collaboration in security,
01:24energy, trade, investment and regional stability.
01:27Together, we are strengthening our efforts to combat organized crime and other transnational threats while creating greater opportunities for growth
01:35and prosperity across our hemisphere, end quote.
01:38In November of last year, General Dan Cain, the chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, met with
01:44Prime Minister Persaud-Besessa at the Diplomatic Center in St. Anne's.
01:49Prime Minister Persaud-Besessa and Ghana's President Dr. Mohamed El-Franali were the only CARICOM leaders invited by President Trump
01:56to attend the Shield of the America Summit in Doral, Florida in March of this year.
02:01The Express newspaper has reported that Prime Minister Persaud-Besessa has disclosed that there are currently U.S. Navy SEAL
02:08team members in the country handling logistics for a larger deployment of SEAL teams to Trinidad and Tobago.
02:15The Prime Minister concluded by saying Trinidad and Tobago celebrates not only America's achievement over the past 250 years, but
02:23also a friendship built on decades of cooperation and partnership.
02:28Jewel Brown, TV6 News.
02:32Jewel Brown, TV6 News.
02:32Jewel Brown, TV6 News.
02:33Jewel Brown, TV6 News.
02:33Jewel Brown, TV6 News.
02:33Jewel Brown, TV6 News.
02:33Jewel Brown, TV6 News.
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