Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar's 10-day trip to New York will cost taxpayers just over $400,000.In a media release Friday, Press Secretary Gavin Nicholas said the trip would bring immense benefits to Trinidad and Tobago.
Persad-Bissessar's schedule includes a visit the State University of New York in Albany, the Polytechnic Institute Public Symposium in Brooklyn, a Public Meeting at Maracas, Queens, and a fund-raiser and dinner at Liberty Avenue in Queens.
She is expected to be interviewed by India TV Network and visit Shiva Temple at Richmond Hill for a reception Saturday.
On Sunday she will be guest of honour at the 30th India Day Parade in New York City and will attend a celebratory dinner the next day.
Critics have said the timing of Persad-Bissessar is wrong and have wondered about the benefits of such a trip, especially at this time. Nicholas said the expenditure is worth it.
"By meeting face to face with members of these organisations, the Prime Minister hopes to convince them to play a greater role in the development of our twin-island State, which it is hoped will redound to the benefit of the population of Trinidad and Tobago, more substantially than the two summits held over the last two years at an estimated cost of some $3 billion," Nicholas said.
"The budgeted expenditure of the Prime Minister and her party's ten-day trip to New York, USA, is approximately $380,000, plus a contingency fee of US$4,000," Nicholas explained.
Persad-Bissessar left Piarco Airport on a commercial flight Friday and is scheduled to return to Trinidad on August 22.
Finance Minister Winston Dookeran will be acting Prime Minister during her absence.
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