Special report: NY anxiously awaits PM Kamla - by Ken Ali

New York: Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar is due here Monday night amid much anticipation with respect to her participation at the 65th United Nations General Assembly.

As chairperson of the Commonwealth, PM Persad-Bissessar is also scheduled to host activities of top-level officials of that body who are in New York.

The Trinidad and Tobago permanent mission at the United Nations, under charge d’affaires Cherry Ann Milard worked until 4 a.m. Sunday and all day yesterday in preparation for the busy round of official engagements by the Prime Minister and her delegation.

The staff was, until late Sunday, preparing briefs and handling administrative matters for the major diplomatic and policy events, at which there is participation by 192 world leaders.

PM Persad-Bissessar has a heavy workload of meetings, that criss-cross the United Nations General Assembly, UN Millennium Development Goals Summit and the Commonwealth.

The Prime Minister’s interests would range from emerging economies, climate concerns, poverty reduction, the role of the Commonwealth and other issues.

She is scheduled to participate in bilateral meetings with several leaders and is listed to co-host a Commonwealth event.
Foreign Affairs Minister Dr. Surujrattan Rambachan came in Sunday afternoon and huddled with officials at the UN mission and technocrats with respect to his schedule.

Dr. Rambachan is due to attend a meeting at the UN headquarters Tuesday of the Association of Small Island States, where discussions are likely to centre on climate change.

His meetings over the next few days would include bilateral talks, a high-level meeting on disarmament and dialogue on sustainable development of small island developing States.

Dr. Roodal Moonilal, whose ministerial portfolio includes the environment, is listed to take part in several relevant meetings, including one which discusses biodiversity, ecosystems and climate change.

That meeting is being facilitated by a review body that is overlooking goals set for member nations of the UN to be achieved by the end of this year.

Minister Moonilal is also scheduled to participate in talks on climate change, carbon capture and green initiatives.

One analyst said Sunday that Trinidad and Tobago’s position is unique “as both a small island State and an energy producer with a net carbon footprint.”

Also on Dr. Moonilal’s itinerary are discussions on “the global water and sanitation challenge”, biodiversity and other pertinent subjects.

Dr. Glen Ramadharsingh, Minister of the People and Social Development, is expected to play a vital role, in light of the General Assembly’s focus on poverty eradication and relevant policy issues.

International government officials and diplomats, many of whom have been arriving here over the past few days, are expected to show keen interest in the new leader of the vibrant small developing island State.

The Prime Minister is scheduled to address several high-level fora and to share the company of United States President Barack Obama, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and other world leaders.

There is speculation that, at a bilateral meeting with the UN Secretary General, she will speak of T&T’s progress in meeting millennium development goals. UN assistance to developing countries may also be on the agenda.
Ken Ali | New York, 20 Sept. 2010