The five-member Arbitral Tribunal of the Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration which handed down that ruling has also established a single maritime boundary almost in the centre of the waters separating the two countries.

The decisions were given in a 116-page ruling handed down by the arbitrators who convened under the provisions of the United Nations Convention on The Law of the Sea, after a dispute between Barbados and Trinidad & Tobago over the right of Barbados' fishermen to fish in waters off Tobago.

While the tribunal held that it lacked jurisdiction to make any binding decision regarding the right of Barbadian fisherfolk to fish in Trinidad's waters, it suggested that both countries work out an agreement to allow limited access. And Prime Minister Owen Arthur says Barbados will move with urgency to conclude those fishing negotiations with the twin-island republic.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economic Affairs and Development, Mia Mottley, who was Attorney General when the matter came up for arbitration on February 16, 2004, says her government has been vindicated.

She says the decision not only allows Barbadian fishermen access to what Trinidad and Tobago claimed as its exclusive economic zone but gives Barbados the right to explore maritime resources.

Prime Minister Arthur says the ruling has forever put to rest the notion that Trinidad & Tobago's property starts 40 miles off Oistins, Christ Church in Barbados and the country can therefore get on with the business of developing what is ours.

The determination of the maritime boundary is also expected to boost Barbados' oil hopes. Energy Minister, Elizabeth Thompson says it has expanded the country's economic viability since options for oil exploration have now increased.

"Now that we have access to a much larger marine space, it allows us to put out that space for bids by international companies to exploit hydrocarbon resources. That makes us very attractive to a number of companies," she said.

But even in the settlement of one issue, another division has arisen, with both countries claiming victory in the tribunal's ruling.

Ms. Mottley says the ruling has shattered Trinidad's hopes for a significant expansion of its maritime space. She said the ruling was what Barbados had sought and the tribunal had only made a slight variation to what Barbados said should be the maritime boundary line between the two nations.

She further claimed that the tribunal had "closed forever the opportunity for Trinidad and Tobago to have access to outer continental shelf rights."

But the Trinidadian media has proclaimed that the tribunal has ruled in the country's favour and in a statement released yesterday, Attorney General, John Jeremie said the tribunal had "rejected each and every claim" made by Barbados "on all counts".

He said among the claims rejected was Barbados' attempt to secure all the area south of the median line which it regarded as its traditional fishing ground - the area just off Tobago.

 Meantime, local fishermen say they won't be doing any victory dance and rushing to fish in what was previously considered Tobago's waters, until an agreement between Barbados and Trinidad is completed. Some of them have been burned before, being imprisoned and losing their catches after being held by the Trinidad & Tobago Coastguard.