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alexk
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Joseph Mondello has not yet been cleared by the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee in the United States to take up his post as Ambasasador to T&T but Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar is looking forward to his appointment.
“We have not had a US Ambassaador for some time,” she said.
The last US Ambassador, Trinidad-born John Estrada, left in early 2017 shortly after the election of US President Donald Trump. More than a year later, in March, President Trump named his longtime supporter Mondello for the post.
Mondello, who appeared before the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee in Washington this week, admitted he had never been to T&T but said that should not rule him out for the position. He described the issue of the number of T&T nationals recruited to the Islamic State (ISIS), which he put at 135, is a problem which overshadows all others he expects to face if he gets the nod.
Yesterday, Persad Bissessar agreed with Mondello, telling reporters after Eid celebrations at the Nur-e-Islam Mosque in El Socorro that the threat from ISIS is real.
“I am sure the national community and the Muslim community will welcome whatever assistance the US can give,” she said.
Persad-Bissessar recalled that as Prime Minister she had signed a United National Resolution with President Barack Obama and others with respect to fighting terrorism. She said she remained “committed to fighting terrorism and any assistance Trinidad and Tobago can get from the US in fighting terrorism we welcome.”
Mondello told the US Senate Foreign Affairs Committee if confirmed he will seek help from federal agencies to reduce the rate of ISIS recruitment in T&T.