The High Commissioner of Trinidad and Tobago in the UK, His Excellency Garvin Edward Timothy Nicholas has stressed that

citizens of Trinidad and Tobago are not poor as claimed by sections of

the public but praised his government’s steps at bridging the gap between the extremely wealthy and the middle class.

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Asked why the citizens of Trinidad and Tobago remained poor in the face of the huge revenue from its oil industry the High Commissioner replied that the citizens of Trinidad and Tobago were not poor.

“Trinidad and Tobago citizens in the main are not poor, one can say that there is a level of poverty in Trinidad and Tobago, there is a even a suggestion that there may be an unequal distribution of wealth because there are people who are extremely wealthy and we also have a very large middle class.”

The High Commissioner made these remarks in the studios of Voice of Africa Radio when he was hosted on its People’s Parliament show.

His Excellency Garvin Nicholas maintained In every country there will be poverty but what was important was how governments dealt with the problem.

“Our government has recognised that there is some level of inequalities, and have sought to bridge the gap by providing a large number of social housing for people who cannot get on the property ladder to get some kind of housing at discounted rates.”

There are social programmes to deal with unemployment and relief through the distribution of food hampers in certain areas to assist the people and the provision of free education as the best way to get out of poverty.

“So that people get into these programmes, they may not get full time employment but they may be able to get employment spread out throughout the year so that the level of income in the family allows them to take care of themselves and their loved ones.”

Commenting on the crime rates in his country, Gavin Nicholas said statistics showed that during 2001-2009 Trinidad and Tobago had a real problem of increased year after year of violent crime and murders which was opposed by the government by taking action to deal with the menace with the appointment of police commissioners.

At the moment there is a curfew in place to directly deal with the crime issue, has made violent crime in the country fall almost to nil making citizens feel much safer.

“There have been initiatives to find out the root causes of young people turning to crime and look for alternatives for these young people so that they don’t have a feeling that the life of crime is the only alternative”

On relations with Africa, the High Commissioner said Trinidad and Tobago has been partnering with many African countries in ways to help develop their oil and gas industries by acting as consultants to many of these countries to get their energy economies up and running.

“There is a lot of collaboration between African nations and Trinidad and Tobago, not only energy but also culturally. There is the suggestion of having Trinidad and Tobago start carnivals on the continent of Africa.

Since the early 20^th century there have been citizens of Trinidad and Tobago who have really pushed the Pan –African movement and the advocacy for the voice of Africa”

His Excellency said even though Trinidad and Tobago are extremely well known in Britain , there are many citizens who were not aware of Trinidad and Tobago as he thought they should , as a result they have tried to raise the profile of Trinidad and Tobago using various cultural activities including the Notting Hill Carnival.

That village will be used to showcase all that is Trinidad and Tobago over that five week period, where you will get the opportunity to witness our cultural expressions, all of that, food film festival, theatre, poetry offering a full opportunity to appreciate everything Trinidad and Tobago.

The High Commissioner hoped to get many people through the upcoming 50^th anniversary of the independence of Trinidad and Tobago next year to experience the country at first hand.

“We are looking at July and August to put up the great exhibition of Trinidad and Tobago to the world and hopefully all the Africans here in the UK will be invited to attend and see Trinidad and Tobago first hand here in the UK”

In his closing remarks the High Commissioner called for the provision of resources “for all citizens regardless of how they look like, regardless of their background, regardless of their religion because at the end of it we are all human beings”

By Florence Simpson/Voice of Africa Radio/UK