PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad and Tobago — A letter to the editor on Trinidad and Tobago Energy Recovery is calling for national economic debate to be grounded in measurable outcomes rather than political narratives, while defending recent progress in the country’s energy sector and diplomatic engagement.
The submission responds to criticism over Trinidad and Tobago’s international posture and economic direction, arguing that current projects and negotiations indicate renewed momentum, including developments tracked by the Trinidad and Tobago Ministry of Energy.
Full text of the letter to the editor
Subject: When Economics Becomes Propaganda, Facts Must Lead the Nation
Dear Editor,
It has now reached a point where the line between serious economic analysis and political propaganda is gone. When a Professor Emeritus at The University of the West Indies, Patrick Watson, pushes claims without context, without balanced evidence, and without grounding in current economic data, that is not academic contribution. That is political messaging presented as expertise.
The statement that the United States will treat Trinidad and Tobago with contempt is not supported by any measurable diplomatic trend, trade data, or investment pattern. It is a claim built on assumption, not evidence. Serious economists do not deal in assumption. They deal in verifiable outcomes.
Where was this concern when the national economy weakened under the former administration led by Keith Rowley? Where was this alarm when energy output declined, when LNG capacity went underutilized, when foreign exchange shortages became routine, and when businesses struggled to access US currency?
The data from those years is clear. Gas production fell. Export earnings dropped. Fiscal pressure increased. Investor confidence weakened. These are not political opinions. These are documented economic outcomes.
Yet there was silence.
Now, under the leadership of Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, the trajectory is shifting. The energy sector is moving again. Negotiations are producing results. Projects are advancing.
The Dragon gas framework agreement reached in March 2026 required direct engagement with Venezuela and alignment with United States regulatory structures. That is not the behavior of a country being treated with contempt. That is active diplomacy producing outcomes.
The Manatee gas development is another concrete example. With peak output projected at approximately 604 million standard cubic feet per day, it will significantly increase domestic gas supply. Drilling begins in 2026. Production is expected between 2027 and 2028.
These are measurable developments that directly affect national revenue, export capacity, and industrial output.
So the question must be asked. On what basis is this narrative of fear being constructed?
Diplomatic engagement with the United States, including under leadership such as Donald Trump, is not ideological alignment. It is economic necessity. The United States remains one of Trinidad and Tobago’s largest trading partners and a critical factor in energy licensing and regulatory approvals.
Any responsible government must maintain that relationship. That is not weakness. That is strategy.
To suggest that engagement equals subservience is a fundamental misunderstanding of international relations.
What is more troubling is the selective framing. The same voices now raising alarm were largely absent when actions were taken that genuinely strained diplomatic credibility. When leadership choices created uncertainty in foreign policy positioning, there was no sustained critique at this level.
That inconsistency matters.
Economics is not about who is in office. It is about outcomes. It is about production levels, export figures, revenue flows, and investment confidence.
Right now, the measurable indicators point to movement in the right direction.
Projected additional gas supply from Dragon and Manatee combined could approach 800 million to 1 billion cubic feet per day by 2028. That scale of increase directly impacts LNG exports and petrochemical production.
At current LNG price ranges between 8 and 12 US dollars per million BTU, even a moderate increase of 2 million tonnes in annual LNG exports could generate between 1.5 and 2.5 billion US dollars in additional revenue.
Government revenue will follow. Increased production leads to higher royalties, taxes, and profit sharing. Conservative estimates suggest an additional 1 to 1.5 billion US dollars annually once full production is reached.
These are not abstract figures. These are projections based on existing projects and current market pricing.
This is what economic recovery looks like. Not speeches. Not fear. Not speculation. Output, exports, revenue.
The leadership of The Honourable Dr. Roodal Moonilal, MP, Minister of Energy and Energy Affairs, has been central to advancing these outcomes. His engagement with international energy companies and his focus on accelerating production timelines have contributed directly to the progress now being seen.
At the highest level, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has provided the political direction and diplomatic engagement necessary to move these agreements forward. Complex negotiations involving cross border gas, international licensing, and investor confidence require firm leadership.
That leadership is being exercised.
The claim that Trinidad and Tobago is positioning itself in a way that invites disrespect is not supported by facts. The opposite is true. The country is re-establishing itself as a reliable energy partner within the global LNG market.
Reliability attracts investment. Investment drives production. Production drives revenue.
This is the cycle that is now being restored.
The public deserves better than selective analysis. It deserves full context. It deserves data driven discussion. It deserves honesty.
When economists abandon balance and adopt political talking points, they undermine their own credibility. When they ignore past failures and exaggerate present risks, they distort public understanding.
That cannot go unchallenged.
Trinidad and Tobago is not being diminished. It is being repositioned. It is moving from constraint to expansion through concrete energy developments and active diplomacy.
That is the reality.
Curtis Anthony OBRADY
