Prime Minister Stephen Harper today announced that he will meet with, Kamla Persad-Bissessar, the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, on April 25, 2013 during her official visit to Canada.
“Canada and Trinidad and Tobago enjoy a strong, vibrant relationship with deep historic ties as members of the Commonwealth,” said Prime Minister Harper. "We are both committed to a common vision of shared prosperity, security and democratic values, and I look forward to welcoming Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar to Canada.”
During Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar’s visit to Ottawa, the two leaders will discuss commercial ties and ways to advance trade negotiations between Canada and the Caribbean Community. Discussions will also focus on ways to expand academic cooperation, and collaboration within the Commonwealth and the Organization of American States. The visit will also serve to further Canada’s engagement in the Americas, a foreign policy priority since 2007.
This is Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar’s first official visit to Canada; the leaders last met at the Summit of the Americas in Cartagena, Colombia in April 2012. Her visit to Canada follows the Governor General’s state visit to Trinidad and Tobago in April-May, 2012.
Canada and Trinidad and Tobago celebrated 50 years of diplomatic relations in 2012. This relationship is further strengthened by the valuable contribution to Canadian society made by Canadians of Trinbagonian descent.
