Business people paying their own way on India visit: Rambachan

Foreign Affairs and Communications Minister Dr Suruj Rambachan made it clear on Wednesday that the state is not paying the bill for business people accompanying Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar on her state visit to India.

Rambachan told the Express newspaper more that 100 people from various business groups have paid their own way.

The Indian government is meeting the expenses for Persad-Bissessar and her husband Dr Gregory Bissessar.

Persad-Bissessar is leading a trade and investment mission which comprises over 28 companies from the private sector. She will hold several number of bilateral meetings and sign memoranda of agreements (MOUs).

There are seven cabinet ministers in the delegation:

1. Trade and Industry Minister Stephen Cadiz
2. Foreign Affairs and Communications Minster Dr Suruj Rambachan
3. Science Technology and Tertiary Education Minister Fazal Karim
4. Transport Minister Devant Maharaj
5. Food Production, Land and Marine Affairs Minister Vasant Bharath
6. Energy Minister Kevin Ramnarine
7. Public Utilities Minister Emmanuel George

The delegation also includes:

• Larry Howai, chairman of the National Gas Company (NGC)
• Neil Gosine, chairman of National Petroleum (NP)
• Hugh Leong Poi, chairman of Lake Asphalt
• Curtis Manchoon, chairman of the University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT)
• Chandar Gupta Seepersad, chairman of the Youth Training and Employment Partnership Programme (YTEPP)
• Jwala Rambarran, chairman of the National Institute of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology (Niherst)
• Atiba Phillips, chairman of IGov.tt