Above: Trinidad PM Kamla Persad-Bissessar and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper (Photo: OPM Trinidad)

By the Caribbean Journal staff

Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar held talks with Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper Saturday before a Canada-CARICOM meeting at the Summit of the Americas in Cartagena.

The two sides talked about health care and Trinidad’s recent oil discovery, among other issues.

According to Harper, he is anxious for Canadian companies to increase their participation in Trinidad’s energy sector.

Several Canadian firms, including PAREX, NICO and Voyager are already working in the country.

Like Canada, Trinidad’s recent discovery includes so-called “oil sands,” in the amount of potentially two billion barrels in the southwestern peninsula of Trinidad.

Canada has the world’s largest reserves of oil sands.

Harper highlighted Canada’s interest in enhancing its trade and economic relationship with CARICOM through a bilateral Trade and Development Agreement, which is currently under negotiation.