Obama may visit Trinidad & Tobago in April 2009

[PHOTO (L-R): Arthur Gray, Advisor to the National Secretariat for the Fifth Summit of the Americas addresses the Caribbean Civil Society Forum; Dr Riyad Insanally, OAS Representative in Trinidad and Tobago; Ambassador Albert Ramdin and Trinidad and Tobago Foreign Affairs Minister Paula Gopee-Scoon at the Caribbean Sub-Regional Civil Society Forum of the Fifth Summit of the Americas in Port of Spain on October 31, 2008]

US President elect Barack Obama may visit Port of Spain as early as April 17-19, 2009 for the Fifth Summit of the Americas. US Presidents are usually regular attendees of the Summit of the Americas.

If not the first, it would be one of the first Summits Obama attends as President of the United States, making Port of Spain a possible destination from where the new US President will demonstrate what "change" means, in terms of US foreign policy towards its neighbours.

The theme of the Fifth Summit of the Americas, "Securing Our Citizens' Future by Promoting Human Prosperity, Energy Security and Environmental Sustainability" was developed in close consultation with member countries and partner institutions of the Summit Process.

The Government of Trinidad and Tobago, in preparing the Concept Paper on the issues to be considered both in the lead up to and at the Fifth Summit, was mindful of the need to make this Summit more people-centred and inclusive.

"This Summit must be able to deliver tangible and measurable outcomes that will make a real, positive difference to the lives of people in the region," the National Summit Secretariat says.

The focus of the Fifth Summit will be on human prosperity, energy security, climate change and sustainable development, all key items on the Democratic agenda.

Organisation of American States Assistant Secretary General Ambassador Albert Ramdin also expects natural disasters and the global financial crisis to appear on the Heads of State agenda at next year's Summit.

If Obama is as popular in Trinidad and Tobago as the polls say, the crowds gathered outside the 5th Summit of the Americas may not be protesters but doting fans hoping to catch a glimpse of their hero.


[PHOTO: Barack Obama courtesy his campaign office]