In a recent sitting of Parliament, Point Fortin MP Paula Gopee-Scoon reportedly criticised the Prime Minister's recent trip to Washington to attend an Organisation of American States (OAS) meeting, saying that no other leader attended except Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar.The Prime Minister was invited to be the feature speaker at this distinguished hemispheric forum. Should the Prime Minister refuse the invitation because there were no other leader attending?
On many occasions, prime ministers and presidents, even ministers and members of parliament, are invited to deliver the feature or keynote address at conferences, seminars and fora. In this case, it was a great honour for the Prime Minister of this country to deliver a keynote address at this important event with representatives from the Americas and elsewhere.It is regrettable that MP Gopee-Scoon would not utilise the precious Parliament time for serious issues rather than such trivialities and frivolities.
What is even more disturbing is that MP Gopee-Scoon and other members of her party were not concerned about the Manning government spending billions on Summits and on trips all over the globe, but are now questioning the Prime Minister's trips that have already reaped far more benefits in the space of just over seven months at the cost of a few millions compared to the billions spent by the previous government on "selling" Trinidad and Tobago.In fact, the Prime Minister's missions have generated so much interest amongst the T&T and Caribbean diaspora that I recommend the government setup a National Diaspora Investment Project that will facilitate investments from this important source.
Furthermore, the government should take advantage of this heightened interest to tap into this promising tourism niche segment.We urge the Prime Minister to ignore the rantings of those who failed when they were given the opportunity and to continue marketing and promoting Trinidad and Tobago, far and wide, wherever there is the potential for increase trade and investments.In this highly competitive Darwinian global environment, we need the Prime Minister, ambassadors, and High Commissioners to be spearheading this effort.
Deosaran Bisnath
Chaguanas