I was quite pleased to read the charge given by Prime Minister Golding to the Caricom council for foreign and community relations, as reported in Saturday's Gleaner. He referred to the stress now being experienced by all countries and advised his audience: "None of us has the strength or the size to stop the world in order to get off or to prevent us from falling off". He also advised that we are going to have to "hold hands" because together we can face the challenges.

As a Jamaican living in Trinidad and who has also lived in St Lucia, I am acutely aware of the bond and common heritage of the Caribbean people. Here in Trinidad, I feel quite at home as I expect a Texan would feel in New York. I also realise that while the work I do here provides me with a living income, Trinidad and Tobago also has the benefit of the small contributions I make to its development. It's a mutually beneficial relationship that I am sure is mirrored by the experiences of Trinidadians living in Jamaica.

I admire foreign world leaders like President Obama, but I realise that they cannot and will not save us. We have to make our own way and Jamaica, Trinidad or any other Caribbean island is just too small by itself.

I congratulate Golding on his sensible charge and I hope that his audience takes heed of it in their deliberations.

I am, etc.,

HUGH P SMYTHE

hsmythe@tstt.net.tt

Westmoorings

Trinidad and Tobago