Ahead of yesterday’s arrival of US Vice President Joe Biden, T&T has ratified an agreement with the US which governs the temporary presence of US military/defence personnel in T&T for mutually agreed activities. The Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) at 3.23 pm yesterday announced the ratification of the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) with the US. However, it was noted that this SOFA could not be the basis for the establishment of an American military base in T&T because it contemplates the temporary presence of US personnel in T&T.
The OPM stated: “No provisions are made or contemplated for the grant of facilities and areas to be utilised by the US military on the territory of T&T. “The SOFA agreement is intended to strengthen the existing excellent relationship between Trinidad and Tobago and the United States in matters of national and regional security.” Biden accompanied by his wife Dr Jill Biden and a large delegation arrived around 4 pm yesterday at Piarco’s South Terminal Building. The OPM said the terms of the SOFA agreement would only become operative and applicable to particular exercises in which both governments mutually agree to engage.
Mutually agreed activities are defined in the SOFA as “such activities for which the government of T&T shall transmit its approval in writing through diplomatic channels to the United States authorities.” The OPM stated: “In accordance with international practice, a determination on whether an action occurred during the course of official duties is customarily made by the relevant authorities of the sending State’s force who are in the best position to define what constitutes official duties of the members of that force. “There is a provision in the current agreement that permits T&T’s Government to become involved in such a determination. This enhances the scope of involvement by T&T and diminishes the scope for unilateral action by the United States. “As in the case with the previous SOFA, for the purpose of mutually agreed activities, US forces will be designated under the Trinidad and Tobago Visiting Forces Act, (Chapter 14:04) of T&T’s law.”
Apart from the SOFA ratification, today’s programme involving Biden deals with discussions with Caricom leaders on regional security, trade, human and social development and energy matters. Prior to that he would pay courtesy calls this morning on President Anthony Carmona and Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar. The US and Caricom delegations would be guests of a luncheon hosted by the Prime Minister following which leaders would speak at a media briefing. Biden’s delegation is scheduled to leave tomorrow afternoon.