Persad-Bissessar’s audience was made up of two hemispheric leaders and a phalanx of prominent figures in policy formation, private sector, academia and the media.
The Prime Minister told of Trinidad and Tobago’s engagement in international issues, such as protection of the environment, and its commitment to poverty reduction, diversification of the economy and improved educational opportunities.
She affirmed the need for nations to hold each other’s hands in undertaking the challenge and stressed that the 14-member Caricom must “change to meet present-day needs.”
Her statements resonated well before the audience at the Fifth Annual Blouin Creative Leadership Summit in mid-town Manhattan.
The chairman of the proceedings hailed Persad-Bissessar especially for her determination to wean the economy away from an undue reliance on energy.
The Prime Minister, who has a hectic round of speaking engagements in New York, was accompanied at the summit by Foreign Affairs Minister Dr. Surujrattan Rambachan and Press Secretary Garvin Nicholas.
She spoke of the country’s opposition to the construction of aluminium smelters, leading to her government’s decision to scrap such a project.
“The people said ‘no way’,” said Persad-Bissessar, adding: “We listened to the people and stopped the plant in our tiny island.”
The Prime Minister shared that segment of discussions with Porfirio Lobo Sosa, President of Honduras, and Stephenson King, Prime Minister of St. Lucia.
Among other leaders speaking at the conference was the President of Georgia and Prime Ministers of Netherlands and Mongolia.
The evening before, Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar evoked positive responses after delivering a stirring address that told of Trinidad and Tobago’s advances against poverty and disease.
She spoke of an array of measures being introduced by her administration to counter poverty, improve the quality of life, boost educational opportunities and better health care.
She was lustily applauded after addressing the Fifth Millennium Goals Development Summit, a United Nations-sponsored event that analyses progress against stated world problems.
She shared the spotlight with a number of world leaders from both the developed and developing countries.
The Prime Minister is attending a function Wednesday night hosted by former United States President Bill Clinton, at which there will be several Heads of State, high-level government officials, top executives and celebrities.
On Thursday morning she is due to attend the opening of the UN General Assembly, at which Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and U.S. President Barack Obama are scheduled to speak.
Persad-Bissessar is also scheduled to take part in a number of bilateral meetings; Minister Rambachan has also participated in such talks.
Dr. Roodal Moonilal, who has ministerial responsibility for the environment, has spoken at several events on such pressing issues as climate change and biodiversity.
Dr. Glen Ramadharsingh, Minister of the People and Social Development, has also participated in related high-powered discussions at which he has shared the government’s vision for the role of his ministry.
Earlier this week, Dr. Ramadharsingh discussed that matter with Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
Ken Ali - New York
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