Manning urges Syrian-Lebanese community to continue to invest in T&T

Prime Minister Patrick Manning is planning to host a World Business Forum in Trinidad and Tobago next year but he is yet to get approval from cabinet for it.

Manning made the disclosure to a group of business people from the Syrian-Lebanese community Friday.

The Manning government hosted two international summits in 2009 - the Fifth Summit of the Americas and the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) - at a cost of more than a billion dollars.

And he has planned a special CARICOM summit on crime for April.

Manning met with the group of about 60 for about two-and-a-half hours at the home of Mario Sabga-Aboud, in Goodwood Park.

He was accompanied by Finance Minister Karen Nunez-Tesheira, National Security Minister Martin Joseph, Trade Minister Mariano Browne and Works Minister Colm Imbert. The media were not invited.

Nunez-Tesheira told reporters Manning gave an overall view of the responsibilities of leadership and his vision for Trinidad and Tobago.

She said the PM explained the rationale for the new Trinidad and Tobago Revenue Authority (TTRA) as a necessary move to take the country forward as part of his Vision 2020.

She said ministers gave an overview of their respective portfolios and how they saw their contribution to national development.

"It was mostly a sharing experience and an opportunity to break down any kind of walls and an excellent opportunity to meet with a significant contributor to the national economy and the business sector. So it was an excellent evening," she told journalists.

The Trinidad Express said Faris al-Rawi, son of Diane Seukeran, said the Syrian-Lebanese Women’s Group arranged the meeting which he described as "a discourse and dialogue" similar to "any walkabout in Trinidad and Tobago."

Al-Rawi told the paper the people who were there were encouraged by Manning's frankness but said the the community's first interest is in supporting Trinidad and Tobago, not a political movement.

"Business is always independent of politics," the paper quoted him as saying.

He said Manning urged the business leader to continue to invest and have commitment and confidence in the country.

Businessman Jimmy Aboud welcomed Manning's promise to deal with crime, especially the drug trade, the Express reported.