Above: Martenelli and Persad-Bissessar (Photo: OP)

By the Caribbean Journal staff

Panama President Ricardo Martinelli hosted Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar for talks Monday on security, commerce, investment and the expansion of the Panama Canal.

The two sides also discussed the possibility of negotiating a partial trade agreement and a pact on investment.

Persad-Bissessar told Martinelli that the Panama Canal’s expansion would have positive effects on Panama’s exports, and expressed an interest on partnering with Panama in the security sector and on the fight against drug trafficking.

Persad-Bissessar was accompanied on the visit by Foreign Minister Surujrattan Rambachan, Trade Minister Stephen Cadiz, Energy Minister Kevin Ramnarine and the Ambassador Mervyn Assam.

Martinelli was joined by Foreign Minister Roberto Henriquez, Deputy Foreign Minister Francisco Alvarez de Soto, Deputy Trade Negotiations Minister Diana Salazar and National Energy Secretary Juan Manuel Urriola.

Theo were also accompanied by Arline Gonzalez Costa, Panama’s Ambassador to the Association of Caribbean States.