PM Kamla leaves Dookeran in charge; has heavy agenda for one week London visit

PM Kamla Persad-Bissessar chats with acting PM Winston Dookeran before her departure for London

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar left for London Saturday to participate in celebrations of Commonwealth Week 2011. She is the current chair of the Commonwealth, the first woman to hold the position. The Queen is the head of the 54-member organisation.

Her engagements for the week include:

• An address at a banquet of the Royal Commonwealth Society on Sunday
• Commonwealth Day Observances at Westminster Abbey on Monday. Denyse Plummer will perform at the event. The Queen, Heads of Government, faith leaders, several hundred young people and dignitaries from around the world will attend 
• Opening Address at a Conference on Educating Women and Transforming Society
• Address to youth delegates of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association 
• Meetings with Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma on preparations for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Conference (CHOGM) in Australia and an update on projects initiated by Persad-Bissessar in her capacity of Commonwealth Chairperson
• Meetings with the Board of Governors and staff from the Commonwealth Secretariat, Commonwealth Foundation staff and heads of Associated Commonwealth organisations
• Interviews with Commonwealth, Caribbean and international media
• Keynote address at the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Local Government Forum conference in Wales. The theme is Energising local economies: Partnerships for prosperous communities
  Bi-lateral discussions with Helen Clarke, the UNDP Administrator
• Meeting with Keir Starmer QC, Director of Public Prosecutions and Head of the Crown Prosecution Service in the UK
• Meeting with Cherie Blair, QC to discuss the Cherie Blair’s Foundation for Women

The PM's delegation includes several business leaders includiing: 

• Dominic Hadeed (Blue Waters)
• Dianna de Sousa (CEO, TSTT)
• Gervais Warner (Neal & Massy Holdings)
• Junior Sammy (Junior Sammy Construction)
• Roy Peake (Peake Industries)
• Andrew Sabga (CEO, Ansa McAL)
• Larry Howai (First Citizens Bank)
• Derek Hudson (BGTT)
• Jewan Ramcharitar (Chairman, E-TEK)

The office of the Prime Minister has said the objective of this visit to the UK is to provide key networking opportunities between Trinidad and Tobago business leaders and their UK and other business people and Government representatives from throughout the Commonwealth.

The first such event will be at the Launch of the Caribbean Investment Forum (CIF). The CIF launch is being organised by the Commonwealth Business Council (CBC) and will be attended by prominent businesspeople and investors from throughout the Commonwealth.

The business delegation will have several opportunities to promote Trinidad and Tobago’s economy and investment opportunities through planned promotional and media events.

The Minister of Trade and Industry will also host a business networking reception at the Trinidad & Tobago High Commission in order to facilitate bi-laterals for the business delegates and any companies or business people interested in doing business in Trinidad and Tobago or working with their local counterparts.