The Fifth Summit of the Americas in pictures
Mariano: Everything’s on track
Chairman of the Inter-Ministerial Committee, Mariano Browne, says “everything is on track for a good summit.”
Manning pleased as big opening day draws near
Obama talks at summit opening
United States President Barack Obama will speak “live” in Trinidad on Friday at the Opening Ceremony of the Fifth Summit of the Americas at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, said Prime Minister Patrick Manning.
US Labour Secretary coming for talks
1,200 journalists coming for summit
Communications co-ordinator of the Fifth Summit of the Americas, Felipe Noguera, says about 1,200 media personnel from 34 countries will visit for the Summit from April 17 to 19.
Over 750 journalists registered so far
Media question ‘pooling’
When asked about the selection process, she [Globecast representative, Melanie Gibb] could not reveal details. However, she indicated that because of the number of countries covering the mega-meeting, only one member of the local media may be chosen for a pool.
NEWS UPDATE: Evo Morales suspends hunger strike
…after Congress approves new electoral law
NEWS UPDATE: Bolivia Enacts New Electoral Law
No word yet on Bolivia’s Morales
Venezuela’s Chávez Pledges Support for Hunger Striking Morales in Bolivia
Morales had announced that he will skip the Summit of the Americas in Trinidad and the summit of the Latin American trade bloc ALBA in Venezuela this week, unless the Bolivian Senate passes the law.
‘Corn soup, callaloo will set Evo right’
PRIME Minister Patrick Manning half-jokingly invited Bolivian President Evo Morales to try some Trini crab and callaloo to “set him right”, even as word came that Morales will miss the Fifth Summit of the Americas from Friday to Sunday as he yesterday entered his fifth day of a hunger strike.
Flight delays, youth talks start late
DELAYS in the arrival of delegates yesterday hampered at least two of the events which were scheduled to take place before the start of the Fifth Summit of the Americas on Friday.
Princess, Victory dock in PoS
WITH its horn blaring, the majestic cruise liner Caribbean Princess announced its arrival at the spanking new multi-million dollar Port-of-Spain International Waterfront at 5.15 pm yesterday.
i am a citizen of Trinidad and Tobago. As a citizen i experience the nonsense that is occurring in this twin island. As a youth i wonder what is the importance of the fifth summit of the Americas.Why should the government of Trinidad and Tobago rush to cover up the country, meaning cleaning places that hasn’t even been touched over the past years example the dump, moving the vagrants that lived there for years. why don’t the government leave Trinidad the way it is and so the foreigners will see the real dilapidated Trinidad and Tobago. Since the PNM has been in power the citizens has been treated like dogs, everyday someone is losing a member of the family, up to 6 murders a day. Now foreigners are coming to this country and the government and suddenly the government seem to take an interest in how the country is looking and they are spending our money which could have been put to good use like helping the people of this country but instead spending our money to cover up their dirty work! the prime minister of this country spends over 10 million on decorating for the summit, to me that is not right!!!! the citizens of Trinidad and Tobago put the government in charge t handle the financial affairs and to see about the country, cater to its needs, why waste tons of money that isn’t going to help the people in the long run but put people through hard times later on?? i wonder if the people of trinidad and tobago’s eyes are open to see the things that are going on in this country. you have to ask yourself, what is Barack Obama going to do for me and my family? why are they cutting down all the beautiful greenery just because some presidents are coming here? why is the president of the united states of America bringing his own medical assistance, water, his own security and many more? why don’t he use the things of Trinidad ? we are being treated like lower class people.i know this fifth summit of the Americas isn’t going to do any thing for me nor my family. i will just pray and ask god to save us from the after effects of the summit.
from :a concerned citizen
It’s a pity people cannot remove their political eyes and give a fair response. Due to ones political eyes, he/she is blinded. What is wrong with the Government cleaning up the place? When important visitors are coming to our homes, we all clean up the place and spruce it up. Even for Christmas we paint up etc and change curtains. So we are expecting visitors and we need to make the place look clean and sparkly. Let us stop talking “dotishnes” The President of the USA always walk with his medical assistance, water, security etc. Do these people read or watch TV? Be real people. It is a pity that we stoop so low in our thinking. Let me ask one final question. When visitors are coming to your home, do you clean it and leave it dirty. Do you sweep the house and wash the dirty wares? I guess my friend leaves she room dirty and smelling stink. Let the 5th Summit of the Americas begin. Hail Trinidad and Tobago. It is an honour to host this Summit. Let us all be gracious guests.
I agree with except as a matter of U.S. national security the President has to travel with that entourage. You had it right when you asked,” What is it that Barack Obama is going to do for me and my family”? The answer is nothing. It’s not his role because the person who is supposed to be handling such affairs is too busy trying to match wealth and global status. I’m not asking for a change in government although I probably should. I am asking for the government to change its policy of pandering to other leaders and start focusing on their countrymen.
I usually keep my home clean because I live there not because I’m having guest. Now if the Prime Minister could take that approach to governing, then perhaps he wouldn’t have had to ask protesters to stay home.
When the topic of the Needs of Persons with Disabilities will be address by the Summit of the Americas?
some trinidadians are so stupid but i guess you guys dont know any better.the first african-american president of the US my home who the world so gloryfies is coming to trinidad,not barbados not jamaica not any other island but trinidad not to mention the other 33 heads of state for a summit, but typical stupid senseless trinidadians ask what’s Obama doing for me,well if some of you people did not know trinidad is a very important ally to the USA not to mention the 75% of natural gas in america that comes from you guys the oil,steel,amonia foods and goods we buy from you.this is an opportunity that any prime minister no matter who is the ruling party whould of taken not to mention the other caribbean islands that envy trinidad for being the host to a summit that none of them have ever seen. you people should be honoured to host such an event and support your leader,hey shane or what ever your name is you need to open your eyes and think on a higher level and stop asking stupid questions like who is going to do what for your family cause no one cares and dont think because im from the states life is sweet because its not and i know a great deal about your country so dont even think of telling me im not from there so how do i know..enjoy your summit people and cherish your country for it is one of the greatest and most powerful countrys in the caribbean,i know my mom is from there.and to you who dont understand what your government is doing they are simply pushing for trinidad and tobago to be a developed country opening trinidad up for business and we all know..well i cant say all but to make money you have to spend money so for the dumb people asking why they spend all this money this is just one reason and besides do you want them tho have the summit in the red house or woodford square!!yea i know about woodford square or in the stadium where you guys have everything lol…
What will Obama’s coming do for me, one writer asked. He can do nothing for a closed mind. but, to the little child living in poverty, whose skin colour is like his and Michelle’s, I am sure it will mean a grat deal of inspiration. Did we ask thesse questions when Charles and Camilla came last year? Did we ask this when all the British royals came calling over the last one hiundred years? We lined our children up to wave flags and grin at them. Every small child in TnT, may find it interesting to learn the geography of the Americas now.Trade in goods could result, and a better chance at life’s gifts may be theirs. We send athletes to visit schools, even rural ones. did anyone ask what does Wendy’s going to a school, or Latapy do for the students there?, who are not interested in beauty contests or soccer?
We should stop trying to qualify as the grumpiest hosts in the world, or the most churlish. We as a people, are better than that.A little extra cleaning when company comes makes sense, silly people, we all do it all the time. The challenge would be for the people of Trinidad to take pride in their place, nd keep it clea after the Summit ids over.
i am sure Mr. Manning does not throw his child’s used papmers on the beach at Macaqueripe, nor leave abandonned Carib bottles on store Bay’s sands.
This summit is a GREAT opportunity to show the world that TnT is a force to be reckoned with and this is exactly what Patrick Manning intends to do! Show the Caribbean ‘who is boss’!!!!
What I am worried about though is the fact that the average citizen will be disturbed by this meeting…security etc etc. But I think that this is a result of the size of our island…Pos is a small city so obviously a meeting of this importance WILL affect everyone with business there.
I am annoyed that maintenance work WAS ONLY DONE for this summit but, if it takes a summit just to get a bus shed repaired and painted, I will take it!!!! The city looks and feels refreshed…I hope that our population will not go and DESTROY these things like they have done to so many other things in the past. Let us show our govt and each other that we can MAINTAIN and care for our infrastructure!!!!!!!!
This is my first trip to the beautiful twin island republic and i read this blog and wonder if was back home, but then i realise we are all from the caricom region. I am from Guyana. And one thing is for sure, there are always naysayers. we faced similar comments when we hosted CARIFESTA, the detractors who sought to demonize the government, withou realising that they were demonising their homeland and themselves. i think trinidad, particularly the government’s should be commended for this huge undertaking. some people are just negative and will never see positive. u just have to ignore htem. to surroudn urself with ignorance and hatred can lead to u becoming the same.
Radha don’t confuse Trinidad and Tobago with the last Carifesta in Guyana. In the first place the PPP prepared a brochure telling people about the uniqueness of the Indian Guyanese population. the first Carifesta was created by Forbes Burnham and was a non partisan Caribbean festival. The last Carifesta was heavily weighted with ethnic preference. Besides, Guyana does not have a national Government. Guyana has a Government voted in by Indians, that Governs on behalf of Indians, and collaborated with a murderous vigilante squad that murdered over 300 young black men.
When you talk about we Radha, people should know that means “awee” in ethnic terms. International advisors advised the Government of Guyana to phase out the Sugar and Bauxite industry, because they were at that time unprofitable. Because mostly Indians work in the sugar industry and blacks in the Bauxite industry the Guyana Government closed down the Bauxite company while heavily subsidizing the Sugar Industry. What about the 168 million dollars the President took from the pension fund paid into by mostly black public servants to give to his friend to build a hotel.
My wife is Guyanese, and I pay attention to what is going on in your country. I can post comments from Indians on Guyanese websites where they refer to African Guyanese as black dogs. Then they come on websites like these pretending that Guyana is “all awwe ah wan”. You ain’t nutting more than a dam PPP sychophant.