By Clint Chan Tack Wednesday, August 5 2009

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Michael Kirby...

TRINIDAD and Tobago nationals who visit, study or work in the United States are good for the American economy, according to US State Department Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary (Bureau of Consular Affairs) Michael Kirby.

He offered this view while underscoring the US’ commitment to work with the Government of TT to address difficulties encountered by some citizens of this country in recent times in obtaining US visas.

Kirby also suggested that the current state of the US economy might be affecting “the applicant pool” for visas.

Speaking with reporters at the US Information Centre in Port-of-Spain, Kirby said : “ We are happy to have people from TT visit the US, study in the US or depending on the kind of visa they have, work or immigrate to the US. We are a country of immigrants.”

He explained that the ability of TT citizens to visit, study or work in the US is “good for our economy. It’s good for the relationship between our countries. The more people who can visit and study and come back here. The more people who can go up and buy products in our country too. We buy some of yours. You can buy some of ours,” Kirby said.

He said while the US would be happy to issue a visa to everyone who applies, “we all have to admit that there are some people who apply, in any society, who aren’t eligible.”

Kirby said difficulties were not being encountered only in one visa category and the US could not “wave a magic wand and take care of visas.” He added that the TT and US governments are committed to working together to resolve instances where a small number of TT nationals are unable to obtain US visas.

Stating that the world financial crisis may have influenced the type of persons who apply for visas, Kirby said: “Our economic situation here is not doing as well as we would like. I think your economy is not doing quite as well as you would like. That seems to be a worldwide issue and that can have an impact on the applicants’ pool. It can have an impact on the people who are doing the receiving.”

State Department official Velia De Pirro said there are no active discussions right now for a US- Caricom free trade agreement but “in the future, I suppose the possibility is there.” She added that in the US, trade preferences have been extended under the Caribbean Trade Preference Act. “That requires congressional action. We as a government can’t unilaterally dictate it but it is something that we continue to discuss and share and understand the concern (of our Caribbean partners),” De Pirro said.