T&T has lobbied to ensure that a minute's silence in respect of the fatalities and wounded of Monday's Boston bombings will be observed at today's opening function of the OAS Americas/African business forum, says T&T ambassador to the United States Dr Neil Parsan.He spoke yesterday as he awaited the arrival in Washington of Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar who is among forum participants.
Parsan said arrangements were in place for the Prime Minister to have Secret Service protection during her four-day stay in Washington.He said security had been tightened in the US capital and embassies, including T&T's. This follows the bombings in which three people were killed and over 170 reported injured when explosions occurred near its finish line.
Parsan said he had been in touch with officials organising today's opening of the forum and T&T had sought to ensure the gathering of dignitaries would observe a moment's silence in respect of those who died or were wounded.He said he was assured by officials it would be "inserted into the programme." The PM will address the OAS forum tomorrow.
Parsan said Washington streets have been empty all of yesterday morning and people had slowly been emerging only during the afternoon.Yesterday Sport Minister Anil Roberts said he had sent a letter of condolence to the US Charge d'Affaires in T&T on the bombings.He said it was disturbing when people attempted to use sport, a unifying medium that brought countries, people and religions together, to injure people.
Roberts said the Boston marathon was an event that brought 97 countries together.He added: "It brings families together, old and young, so what happened on Monday was a truly distasteful and dastardly act. It falls into the same category as the incident at the 1972 Munich Olympics, involving Israeli athletes and the 1996 bombing at the Atlanta Games."
"I viewed tapes of the Boston bombings and it was particularly saddening to see. When the first explosion occurred about eight to 20 metres from the finish line, you can see the T&T flag flying amidst the smoke, debris and rubble."Roberts said: "In the picture you can see an old man who was running, falling to the ground and to the side there is a tree without leaves and in that line you can see the British Union Jack alongside the T&T flag. It was very disheartening but I'm relieved the four T&T-born competitors in the race were safe."
"We hope what happened in Boston is not a trend as the world looks forward to the London marathon on Sunday. T&T, which is moving to sports tourism which will bring international athletes to our shores, is going to have to prepare to ensure we are prepared for all such eventualities."