The $235 million allocated for the Commonwealth of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in the 2009 budget did not include the leasing of the opulent Caribbean Princess and the Serenade of the Seas that were used as floating hotels for delegates and international media. Data under the Freedom of Information Act revealed a payment of $59.1 m at the start of the 2009 financial year was to secure availability of the vessel. The sum was not inclusive of the CHOGM budget and is listed as the charter fee for both vessels. Trade and Industry Minister Mariano Browne, who is out of the country on Government business, in responding to questions from Sunday Guardian via e-mail, disclosed that the cruise ships were expected to cost approximately US$18 m ($109,620,000 m TT). "The net cost of cruise ships for the Fifth Summit of the Americas was approximately US$18 million. We expect to spend the same amount (as Fifth Summit).
The cruise ships were chartered. That means they came provisioned," Browne explained. This means there was a close to $110 m increase in spending on the event. Browne said the final cost for CHOGM will be determined when bills are tallied and recorded. Describing CHOGM as an "unqualified success," Browne said, "CHOGM added its voice in a very effective manner to matters of concern to T&T and the world, not the least of which is climate change. "In general, all arrangements were effected with few errors. Moving approximately 5,000 people across five major events to 100 separate meetings. Whilst there have been some complaints, these were minor."
How the money was spent
1. According to the document provided by the Office of the Prime Minister conference services cost $15.0 m, which is almost double the amount spent on the Fifth Summit of the Americas hosted in April, which costed $7,199,692.00 m.
2. Telecommunication services cost $31.3 m. Sunday Guardian understands delegates and media representatives were expected to be provided with a bmobile voucher which would enable them to obtain free GSM Sim cards preloaded with mobile airtime.
3. Marketing and communication were priced at $6.9 m.
4. While accommodation and catering services at main conference sites (Hyatt and Hilton Hotels) cost $30.3 m.
5. Management for both cruise ships at $6.3 m.
6. The official CHOGM dinner and luncheon had a price tag of $2.5 m.
7. The cost of security was tallied at $13.3 m.
8. Protocol activity was billed at $12.0 m for CHOGM.
9. The Business and Youth Fora cost $14.0 m.
Opening and closing ceremonies for CHOGM, which included a cast of over 800 and designed by Brian Mac Farlane, cost $20.0 m. Logistics (transportation, tent rental) $21.1 m. Hotel expenditure at the Carlton Savannah, St Ann's where Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and her husband Prince Philip and the entire British team stayed was not contained in the document. Contacted last Friday, Minister of Foreign Affairs Paula Gopee-Scoon said, "I am unsure of the exact cost but the expense will be shared by the ministry and by the visiting State."
Dookeran: It's building diplomatic relations
Former Central Bank Governor Winston Dookeran believes T&T has exercised an obligation to the international community by holding the conference. "I do not think it would have any immediate value but hopefully it will assist us by building better diplomatic relations. In terms of economic value I do not think very much benefit will occur."
Ramsamooj: Politcal rhetoric don't justify expenses
Political scientist and economist Derek Ramsamooj, however, believes the recently concluded conference has very little to do directly with T&T. He said, "The issues such as climate change, poverty alleviation, and perhaps global trade competitiveness would have some bearing to our country in the fullness of time. "The political rhetoric that will be utilised to justify expenses from our national coffers of bringing business benefits to T&T did not require a CHOGM conference. It simply required the meeting of globally strategic business partners."
