October 3rd, 2016
Port-of-Spain
It is my pleasure to extend on behalf of Dr. the Honourable Keith Rowley, Prime Minister, and the Government and People of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, best wishes to the Government and People of the Federal Republic of Germany as we observe the National Day of Germany.
Today, we celebrate the twenty-sixth anniversary of the reunification of Germany when the German people seized the opportunity to embark on a path to restored nationhood.
But the significance of the year 2016 does not end there. Apart from marking fifty-four years of independence for Trinidad and Tobago, it also marks fifty-four years of vibrant diplomatic relations between Trinidad and Tobago and Germany. This means that Trinidad and Tobago has been able to count Germany as an important partner in the global arena since the birth of our country as an independent nation. Our friendship has withstood the test of time, and has greatly augmented the cultural richness of both of our counties.
To illustrate, it is worth noting the visit of a delegation of German Carnival officials last year to Trinidad and Tobago, during which an agreement was signed for the provision of products and services to enhance Germany’s Carnivals. Along with our local carnival traditions, our cherished national instrument, the steelpan, has also found a home in German culture, and we are happy to observe the proliferation of steelbands across Germany. Similarly, Trinidad and Tobago acknowledges the recent donation of classical musical instruments to the National Academy of the Performing Arts (UTT) through the patronage of the Goethe Institut and thank Germany for assisting in the development and recognition of this genre locally.
Our collaborative efforts extend beyond culture, to include areas such as education, health, sports, climate change management and renewable energy, among others. While Trinidad and Tobago may be culturally rich, we are painfully aware of our status as a small island developing state and our inherent vulnerabilities to the ubiquitous threats of natural disasters and climate change. As such, we acknowledge with gratitude the donation of five mobile training units in March of this year to the Department of Physics at the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, through the German-sponsored Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Technical Assistance or REETA Project. We join with our German counterparts in expressing the hope that this donation will serve to enhance capacity building within regional educational institutions to develop alternative energy sources for the mitigation of the crippling effects of climate change.
These acts of generosity demonstrate Germany’s long-standing commitment, not only to Trinidad and Tobago but also to CARICOM. Since 2003, Germany has provided technical support to CARICOM through the Caribbean Renewable Energy Development Programme, aimed at removing barriers to the use of renewable energies and energy efficient technologies in the Caribbean region. A new phase of German-CARICOM cooperation, initiated in March of this year under the aforementioned REETA project, brings the total support of the German Government to CARICOM governments for the development of renewable energy to 8 million Euros.
Since 1988, Germany has been a member of the Caribbean Development Bank, which provides development resources for the promotion of economic growth and poverty reduction in CARICOM states. Germany’s contribution of 15.96 million US dollars to the eighth replenishment of the Bank’s Unified Special Development Fund means that CARICOM’s lesser-developed member states will not lose access to low-interest loans and grants.
Your Excellency, Germany’s ongoing engagement with the CARICOM region through the EU-CARIFORUM engagement has provided substantial Aid for Trade and greatly facilitated the ease with which both of our peoples have been able to invest in and trade with each other. The impact of all of these interactions has resulted in the creation of much needed jobs, boosted business confidence, and spurred growth within our fragile Caribbean economies.
Germany has also shown interest in working with CARICOM and Latin America on security issues. As you may be aware, ladies and gentlemen, Trinidad and Tobago will host the Twelfth Conference of Defence Ministers of the Americas from October 10th of this year to 12th. First convened in 1995, this Conference provides a valuable forum of dialogue for the countries of the Hemisphere to increase cooperation in the areas of Defence and Security. Trinidad and Tobago welcomes Germany’s interest in participating as an Observer State as further evidence of our shared commitment to fostering solidarity among states and to securing the future of our societies.
On the international stage, Germany has positioned itself as a standard bearer for development, social justice, human rights, innovation, peace, and security. Germany has made available 756 million Euros in 2016, in response to humanitarian crises which have retarded the progress of the developing world in achieving the goals identified in the Sustainable Development agenda. These disbursements have solidified Germany’s status as the world’s fourth largest donor after the United States of America, the United Kingdom and the European Union, which does not include the substantial contributions made by Germany to European Union development and humanitarian programs.
On the issue of climate change, Germany has proven to be a staunch ally. In my address to the 71st Session of the United Nations General Assembly, I noted the historic achievement of a global consensus in the form of the Paris Climate Agreement as a sign that the spirit of multilateralism is indeed strong. Trinidad and Tobago, and by extension all Small Island Developing States (SIDS), are therefore pleased to witness the enthusiasm with which Germany ratified the Paris Agreement on September 23rd. We further endorse the German Environment Minister’s statement that Germany’s action should send a decisive signal to all of its international partners. It is our hope that just as Germany has recognized its responsibility to future generations, that the EU bloc would be urged to do so without further delay.
Your Excellency, Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen,
The renowned German philosopher Immanuel Kant once implored humanity to “live your life as though your every act were to become a universal law.” By their very example, Germany has heeded this maxim and I daresay, if other members of the international community were to follow their example, we would all be in a better place.
Ladies and Gentlemen, please join with me in raising a toast to the Government and People of the Federal Republic of Germany on the celebration of the twenty-sixth anniversary of the Day of German Unity and to their continued prosperity.
I thank you.
