PM's full statement on departure for CHOGM

PM Kamla Persad-Bissessar says goodbye at Piarco, surrounded by some cabinet members. Acting PM Winston Dookeran didn't make it to the airport on time because of car problems. He eventually hitched a ride to Piarco but it was too late to meet with the PM.

Good evening,

As you are aware, today I leave Trinidad and Tobago to attend the biennial Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), which on this occasion, takes place in Perth, Australia.

You would recall ladies and gentlemen, that last month due to the on-going developments in Trinidad Tobago, in light of the State of Emergency, I curtailed my official attendance at the 66th session of the United Nations General Assembly to one (1) day, to enable me to be present here at home to attend to matters of State.

I am leaving the governing of Trinidad and Tobago in the very capable hands of the Honourable Winston Dookeran who will act as Prime Minister, on my behalf, during my attendance at CHOGM 2011. I return home on November 7th.

However on this occasion, as the outgoing Commonwealth Chairperson-in-Office, you would appreciate that it is my duty to be present at CHOGM 2011 to hand over the stewardship of the Commonwealth to the Honourable Julia Gillard, Prime Minister of Australia.

Ladies and gentlemen, CHOGM 2011 is indeed an historic occasion, as the 54 member Commonwealth will witness the handover of the baton of leadership from its first female Chair-in-Office to its second female Chairperson - a fitting culmination of this year’s Commonwealth theme – “Women as Agents of Change”; a theme and a position which I have championed locally, regionally and internationally during my tenure as Chair-in-Office.

I will also participate in several high level events, which include two side events promoting Women’s Rights, and attend key business meetings which take place as a forerunner to the Heads Meeting. These high-profile engagements will provide important avenues for me to consolidate and strengthen the relationships and networks which Trinidad and Tobago has developed.

As you know, on all my official foreign visits, I seek the interests of our twin-island state by fostering deeper diplomatic and economic ties with our fellow Commonwealth Nations, emerging economic giants and our traditional trading partners.

But I assure you ladies and gentlemen, though I may be in Australia, I will remain connected to the citizens of Trinidad and Tobago thanks, to the pervasiveness of Information Communication Technology and the access to information that we now have at our fingertips.

Indeed, the effective use of information and communication technology is essential to achieving transparency, accessibility and accountability- key aspects of my Government’s commitment to Good Governance.

In this regard I wish to announce the launch of the Office of the Prime Minister’s newly upgraded website, hosted at www.opm.gov.tt.

I am dedicated to keeping the people of Trinidad and Tobago and the Diaspora informed of the latest news and activities as carried out by the Office of the Prime Minister.

In particular, if we want to engage our younger citizens in the governance of our nation, we must utilize the medium to which they have become most familiar. Undoubtedly that medium is ICT.

The Office of the Prime Minister website will feature news, speeches, photos, multimedia and social media content. I encourage everyone to visit the site for information and updates on all my activities at CHOGM 2011 and indeed, on all future engagements.

Increasingly, governments around the world are using the Internet as a platform for engaging and informing their citizenry, and I welcome the opportunity to reaffirm my commitment to transparency, accountability, participation and inclusivity. These are the pillars of effective democratic governance.

As Prime Minister, it is my hope that this website will uphold these pillars of democracy and bring Trinidadians and Tobagonians who reside locally and internationally, closer to their Government.

At present, www.opm.gov.tt currently highlights my Prime Ministerial engagements.

However it is envisioned that the website may in the future facilitate the development of a two way communication platform whereby citizens can post questions and make suggestions directly to the Office of the Prime Minister.

This is all part of developing our nation’s pluralistic democracy, providing the citizens of Trinidad and Tobago with a space for free and open debate.

Ladies and gentlemen we cannot underestimate the impact and influence of ICTs and social media on government, Industry, indeed on every aspect of life in our modern society.

Yet we need to be mindful of how these media are used and promote a socially responsible ethic regarding the digital age.

www.opm.gov.tt is one of this Government’s mechanisms to stay in touch with our citizens… with the people who have placed their trust in us to lead this country.

I leave you today with the assurance that Trinidad and Tobago will make a powerful impact at CHOGM 2011 and my delegation will positively represent the interests of the citizens of Trinidad and Tobago.

Ladies and gentlemen, members of the media, I thank you for your attention.