Prime Minister Patrick Manning has urged citizens to be supportive of efforts for next week's Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) since investment flows from it will "redound to the benefit of present and future generations." In an address to the nation last night, Manning said: "Every positive story of T&T that emanates from this meeting will go a long way towards our international prominence." CHOGM preparations were moving very smoothly and were in an advanced state of readiness, he said. "Our recent experience of successfully hosting the Summit of the Americas just seven months ago is now serving us in excellent stead," Manning said.
He said security for the event must be "flawlessly adequate," since Queen Elizabeth II, head of the Commonwealth and the Duke of Edinburgh would be attending, along with with 40 of the 51 Commonwealth leaders, plus significant other delegations and dignitaries. "Adjustments will necessarily have to be made by all of us, but these will be done with minimum dislocation to our normal daily lives," Manning said. He said T&T's reputation had been significantly enhanced by the hosting of international conferences.
He added that T&T would be even more than usual in the global spotlight with CHOGM and would have an opportunity to reinforce its reputation as a progressive place. Manning said T&T, as host, would also experience invaluable promotion for its stability, harmonious diversity, democracy and adherence to human rights and freedoms.
"We feel certain that, among other benefits, as has happened in other countries that hosted the CHOGM, investment flows into our country would increase as a result of the meeting being held in Port-of-Spain," he said. "Indeed, we intend to capitalise on this unprecedented situation which will bring business leaders and investors from all over the globe to our country. "Through the Commonwealth Business Forum alone, for example, some 800 delegates will attend and use the opportunity to build business partnerships, create trade linkages and set up commercial ventures. Manning said leaders would discuss the critical issue of climate change to formulate a position for a crucial United Nations meeting on the issue in Copenhagen next month. He said T&T's CHOGM was therefore most important to the process.
"We have the opportunity to positively influence its outcome," he said. "Indeed, T&T is doing its utmost to advance the process that could result in a global agreement on this crucial matter affecting all of humanity. "T&T has been at the centre of the frenzied activity among leading nations from both the developed and developing world as we seek to ensure that we take the strongest possible position in preparation for the Copenhagen meeting." As evidence of this, Manning said France's President Nicholas Sarkozy, Prime Minister Rasmussen, of Denmark, and Secretary General of the United Nations, Ban Ki Moon, would be on official visits to T&T to participate in this process.