PM Kamla off to NY Monday for series of meetings, addresses to UN

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar leaves for New York on Monday afternoon on a hectic visit that will include two addresses at the United Nations, one at the Millennium Development Goals conference and the other at the 65th General Assembly.

Her delegation includes three ministers - Foreign Minister Dr Suruj Rambachan, Housing and Environment Minister, Dr Roodal Moonilal and People and Social Development Minister, Dr Glen Ramadharsingh.

Other members include technocrats from the office of the Prime Minister (OPM) and the ministries represented as well as officials of Trinidad and Tobago's permanent delegation to the United Nations.

This year’s General Assembly will focus on bio-diversity, poverty eradication, the maintenance of international peace and security, the promotion of human rights, the promotion of justice and international law and disarmament.

On Tuesday the Prime Minister will address delegates attending the UN Millennium Development Conference. Her speech will be broadcast live on radio and television to citizens in Trinidad and Tobago, and on the Internet.

Persad-Bissessar will use the speech to indicate what steps her government is taking to move Trinidad and Tobago forward on the agenda of the execution of the Millennium Development goals.

One of the goals is the universal eradication of extreme poverty. The Prime Minister proposes to present a comprehensive position on how her administration is tackling this issue and the issue of environmental sustainability.

Persad-Bissessar is one of the specially invited guests to the conference. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon invited her to speak at the conference when he met with her at the CARICOM summit in Montego Bay, Jamaica in July.

She will also join worlds leader, including U.S. President Barack Obama, at the 65th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), which begins on September 23. Her speech to the General Assembly is scheduled for September 27.

In addition to the UN meetings which will be held everyday from 9.00am between September 21st and 28th, 2010, the Prime Minister is scheduled to participate in a series of ancillary conferences on the sidelines of the General Assembly.

She will hold a number of bilateral and multi-lateral meetings with the heads of other UN member states.

These include:

• Tuesday, Sept. 21: Attending the Round table discussions of the Council of the Americas, where the Prime Minister is carded to give an official address
• Wednesday, Sept. 22: Attending and addressing the Fifth Annual Global Creative Leadership Summit as part of the Leaders Panel on “Emerging Economies”. The audience comprises about 40 other delegates and high-level leaders in business, government and academia
• Wednesday, Sept. 22: Attending the Heads of State reception to be hosted by former President Clinton
• Thursday, Sept. 23: Meeting senior representatives of the IDB at the UN Headquarters
• Thursday, Sept. 23: Attending and participating in a UN High-Level Panel Discussion under the theme ‘Women as a Critical Force in Democratic Governance’
• Thursday, Sept. 23: Attending a Reception marking 65th UN General Assembly hosted by President Barack Obama and Mrs. Obama
• Friday, Sept. 24: Meeting with the Commonwealth Secretary General, Kamlesh Sharma) in her capacity as Chairperson of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Saturday, Sept. 25: Discussions with UN Secretary General Ban Ki–Moon on issues pertinent to the progress of Trinidad and Tobago and the Caribbean region with the assistance of the UN
• Sunday, Sept. 26: Hosting a Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting (in her capacity as Current Chair) jointly with the United Kingdom (Headquarters of Commonwealth) and Australia (incoming Chair). Invitees include the Heads of Government of the Commonwealth and foreign ministers
• Sunday, Sept. 26: The Prime Minister will join in a meeting of the Committee of Heads of Government of CARICOM on Governance, at which a range of issues of importance to the region will be discussed
• Tuesday, Sept 28: Meeting with Gov. Rendell. Reception in her honour hosted by New York Congressmen

The Prime Minister will return home on September 28. During her absence, Labour Minister Errol McLeod will act as head of government.