4/5/2009

Ladies and Gentlemen of the Media.

I extend a very warm welcome to you this evening to discuss the 2009 Summit of the Americas in Trinidad and Tobago. I am very pleased to be accompanied this evening by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Honourable Paula Gopee-Scoon, the Minister in the Ministry of Finance, the Honourable Mariano Browne and the National Coordinator for the Fifth Summit and CHOGM 2009, our distinguished Ambassador, His Excellency, Luis Alberto Rodriguez.

We are drawing close to the historic event .The countdown has begun. It is now just forty-three days away, when thirty-four Presidents and Prime Ministers from our hemisphere will be here, with their delegations, in Port of Spain. Close to 4,500 visitors are expected to our country.

Our philosophical position
My Friends, when we proposed that Trinidad and Tobago host two major international meetings at this time, we knew we were taking a giant step forward for our country and also for our CARICOM partners. It was clear to us that our nation and our regional neighbourhood would emerge as a stronger voice in the community of nations. For far too long, smaller nations have existed on the global periphery; for far too long there has been mere tokenism in recognition of this reality; and for far too long countries and regions like ours have not had sufficient success in shaping an all-inclusive global agenda. If Trinidad and Tobago is aspiring to be a developed country, it must start to shoulder the commensurate responsibility. And so, here we are today.
We were also firmly convinced on a number of other matters. Some of these are as follows.

1. Our capability and capacity

Plans and preparations are fully in train for a successful hosting of this Summit and you will be updated on these during the course of this evening. I give the nation the assurance that we will all be very proud of the way our country handles this huge undertaking.

2. Economic benefits

We also knew what we wanted to achieve. We recognised, for example, that placing Trinidad and Tobago in the hemispheric spotlight would lift the image and stature of our country and provide significant economic benefits. These include increased investment flows in all areas of the economy involving energy, tourism, manufacturing, agri business, entertainment and services, particularly international conferencing and finance. This is underscored by the fact that leaders of the hemispheric business community will be here during the summit, looking at our country's excellent investment and business potential and building networks and alliances among themselves and with our local private sector for commercial ventures that will generate wealth and employment in Trinidad and Tobago. Additionally, and of immediate benefit, is the increased visitor arrivals for the Summit which will generate revenues for the country.

3. Other enduring benefits

There will be other enduring legacies. For example, preparations for the Summit have already accelerated planned investments in key areas. Take security for example. Our ability to provide the secure environment for this Summit will go a long way towards improving the capabilities of local law enforcement agencies in dealing with our own security concerns. The same goes for the improvements we are financing in telecommunications, the hospitality industry, air and sea ports infrastructure and the renewal of the capital city. There is no doubt that the investments we are making for this Summit will provide long-term benefits for the stability and progress of Trinidad and Tobago.

4. Benefits to CARICOM

There are also significant benefits for our CARICOM partners. CARICOM is at the forefront of the Summit. The focus will be on our region and could also bring to our neighbours, the economic benefits that I have outlined for Trinidad and Tobago. We have deliberately promoted the hosting of the Fifth Summit as a CARICOM initiative.

During the Summit, Leaders will meet together as a group to make decisions. CARICOM leaders will be able to engage their hemispheric colleagues of the larger countries in discussions about their own concerns. There will also be opportunities for bi-lateral meetings among countries.

5. Influencing the hemispheric agenda.

Ladies and Gentlemen, perhaps most important of all, is the fact that Trinidad and Tobago, as host country and chair of the meeting, will make a significant contribution to shaping the hemispheric agenda for the twenty first century. We have already capitalised on this opportunity.

In preparation for the Summit, we advanced a social agenda that gives priority to issues such as food security, reducing the incidence of non-communicable diseases, improving the quality of education and health services, reducing poverty, crime and violence, and creating decent work opportunities. All these matters are consistent with our own development realities.

a. The theme
The theme we have chosen- "Securing Our Citizens' Future by Promoting Human Prosperity, Energy Security and Environmental Sustainability" -reflects the underlying development priorities that must be addressed if we are to give all our citizens the chance to participate fully in society and to benefit from economic development and growth, and to enjoy peace, security and prosperity in their daily lives.

I must underscore the fact that this theme was determined after the most extensive consultations in the history of the Summit process. We met with civil society and the private sector across the hemisphere. We spoke, inter alia, to NGOs, academia and think-tanks to ensure that the views of the people of the region were considered at the very start. We therefore know that the issues we have identified will produce results that are recognized and felt by the average man or women in the street.

Our theme has created a platform for increased cooperation and the exchange of information on experiences, programmes and good practices to strengthen social policy, and the mobilisation of increased flows of technical and financial resources. This will advance strategies to improve the quality of life for the people of Trinidad and Tobago, and all the Americas.

b. The main document
Our country has drafted the main document for the Summit, based on the theme we selected. This Draft Declaration of Commitment of Port of Spain has been the subject of great debate, discussion and negotiation over the last several months. The document is being negotiated by the 34 countries that will attend the Summit. Trinidad and Tobago is leading this negotiation process with great success. It is a challenging process, that requires us to bridge gaps and perspectives among countries, find common approaches, and ultimately build consensus on the ways forward.

This document is different because it contains all the elements of an actionable plan. The emphasis is on implementation. It is the only way through which the people of the region would experience to a greater extent the benefits of the Summit process. This Summit is not going to be a talk shop. The emphasis is on action with Trinidad and Tobago leading the way for a new vision for the Americas.

c. The new realities
We should also recognise that the Fifth Summit of the Americas takes place during a crucial time in world affairs, when the issues to be discussed have become more important than ever and when the urgency for concrete collaborative action is even greater than in the past. The world is today facing an unprecedented economic crisis from which no country or region is insulated.

The financial crisis of the past several months affects us all. The entire world is now in a period of transition. Major economies now face weakening economic conditions with adverse consequences for social progress looming on the horizon. The current economic crisis could deepen existing vulnerabilities in our countries or expose new ones. The agreements reached at the Fifth Summit will take these developments into account.

At the same time, we must also recognize that the pillars of the Summit theme - human prosperity, energy security and environmental sustainability - are at the core of our ability to weather the financial storm capably and successfully.

d.Trinidad and Tobago's vision for the hemisphere
Trinidad and Tobago is of the view that the emphasis must shift from balancing competing interests to fostering mutual interests. We must work towards building a hemispheric society that is based on shared values and the aspirations of people that transcend borders.

Based on this approach we have an ambitious vision for the region's future. Through the Declaration of Commitment of Port of Spain, we want to build a Western Hemisphere in which:

Our children and young people can go to schools that provide them with quality education, from early care all the way to the tertiary level. This training must extend to our adult population as well, in order to make sure that people have the skills that they need to find meaningful and gainful employment.
Our people can receive the medical care they need, from birth to old age, and we are able to prevent and treat diseases such as hypertension, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, dengue, and HIV/AIDS.
Our societies have significantly less violence, crime, terrorist threats and illegal trafficking of firearms, drugs and people, and our neighbourhoods are safe place for our children to play.
Our natural environment is protected and valued as the basis for healthy, sustainable communities and the effects of climate change are mitigated and managed effectively. And, we reduce the threats to those communities that are in vulnerable areas, such as along the coastlines, on mountain slopes and in flood prone areas.
Our homes, factories, businesses and transport systems have sufficient supplies of energy that are clean, green and do not adversely affect our environment.
We have prosperous economies that encourage innovation and investment into businesses that create decent jobs for everyone. And, the partnerships between the public and private sectors are strengthened as part of building stronger, more resilient economies.
Conclusion

Therefore, Ladies and Gentlemen, the Fifth Summit provides a tremendous opportunity for all nations of the hemisphere to re-examine situations, assess the implications of global developments and together take the necessary actions that will put the Americas on a more promising and sustainable path forward. The Summit of the Americas offers the opportunity for new integration and cooperation in the region.

Towards this end, we think it is essential that the Summit move beyond the rhetoric, past mere words and into action. We have to ensure that the Summit and the Leaders focus on the people of the hemisphere. Trinidad and Tobago's goal is to reconnect the Summit to the citizens so that the decisions and agreements made at the meeting bring meaningful and lasting benefits to all people.

This Summit is the opportunity to re-launch hemispheric relations on an entirely new foundation. Trinidad and Tobago can be the platform for this new foundation. In hosting this Summit, we are seeking to do exactly that. Our country does not exist in isolation. The nations of the Americas are our friends, our neighbours, our marketplaces, and our partners. This is a timely opportunity for new ideas, new approaches and the renewal of the Inter-American agenda, which is framed by the principles of solidarity.

It is no ordinary feat that Trinidad and Tobago succeeded in gaining hemispheric support for hosting these meetings in Port of Spain. The support we received is a very clear indication of the very high esteem in which our nation is held in the international community. Through this Summit we will achieve the twin objectives of individual national progress whilst contributing to a better life for all the people of our hemisphere. During this Summit, our country will ensure that we develop and agree on strategies and solutions to address, collectively, the challenges that face our hemispheric community.

Trinidad and Tobago is ready to play its part. The Government needs the support of all citizens in this endeavour.

Thank you, very much, Ladies and Gentlemen, and all members of the head table are available to answer your questions.