PM Kamla holds high level talks with Commonwealth SG

New York – Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s round of high-level meetings continues Frriday. She meets with Commonwealth Secretary General Kamalesh Sharma in her capacity as chair of that 54-member organisation.

At that meeting, the Prime Minister is likely to recap the “Declaration of Port of Spain”, which was the communiqué that followed the most recent Commonwealth Heads of Government Conference (CHOGM).

That document spoke of the need for closer collaboration between member countries on economic, social and environmental issues and for a new approach to assisting vulnerable nations.

Persad-Bissessar may discuss a re-engineering of the Commonwealth to make the group more relevant and involved in world affairs and to introduce new measures to further link the countries.

On Thursday night the Prime Minister met United States President Barack Obama at a function hosted by the latter following his earlier contribution to the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

Two evenings before, Ms. Persad-Bissessar held talks with former US President Bill Clinton, who now heads the Clinton Global Initiative, an influential international organisation involved in philanthropy and in influencing policy formulation.

The Prime Minister has been utilising these meetings to explain her vision for the development of Trinidad and Tobago, including such innovations as the Ministry of the People, laptop computers for new secondary school students and the Children’s Life Fund.

Senior officials of her administration have also been speaking at pertinent conferences and networking with relevant international counterparts.

Her delegation includes Foreign Affairs Minister Dr. Surujrattan Rambachan, who on Friday addressed a meeting on disarmament and held four bilateral sessions.

Environment Minister Dr. Roodal Moonilal addressed a roundtable meeting that discussed sustainable development of small island developing States.

Minister of the People and Social Development Dr. Glenn Ramadharsingh spoke with international officials who are here for the UNGA on matters of social policy and poverty alleviation.

Press Secretary Garvin Nicholas and Special Security Advisor to the Prime Minister Gary Griffith have also participated in discussions applicable to their respective fields. 

Persad-Bissessar is due to host a function Friday night at the Trinidad and Tobago Consulate in honour of the country’s Republic Day.

She is due to formally meet the media on Saturday.