PM off to Washington, New York today

The Prime Minister is expected to board a Caribbean Airlines flight at the Piarco International Airport at about 5.30 pm, bound for Washington. She is expected to return to TT on Saturday.

A statement from the Office of the Prime Minister said last Thursday that Persad-Bissessar will attend a series of meetings, including the Americas-Africa Business Forum, where she will participate in discussions around the theme, “New Commercial Partnerships For Economic Growth.”

At this event, Persad-Bissessar will deliver remarks along with the Prime Minister of Namibia, Dr Hage Geingob, entitled “Americas and Africa: The Decade Ahead.”

Before returning to TT, the Prime Minister will also receive an award for her commitment to promoting issues affecting women and children in the Americas at the “Spirits of the Americas” charity event.

The Office of the Prime Minister sent out a statement which reported her as saying she was “looking forward to the discussions in Washington.” The PM, the statement added, will “continue to aggressively pursue new international partnerships in order to continue stimulating economic growth and further development.”

A subsequent release from the Office of the Prime Minister, yesterday, stated Persad- Bissessar will also deliver high levels remarks at the United Nations Headquarters, New York, tomorrow, where she will speak at a debate on “The UN and Global Economic Governance.”

“The ongoing discussions about how to improve global economic governance are growing in significance since the outbreak of the international economic and financial debt crisis. Prime Minister’s contribution will address this trend while focusing on the role of informal groups such as the G20,” the Office of the Prime Minister said.

It said Persad-Bissessar will also offer some insight into how countries can help enhance communications between international financial institutions, the G20 and the rest of the world.

“The Prime Minister will offer her own perspective through the sharing of her concerns, views and experiences as a leader within the Caribbean Basin,” the Office of the Prime Minister said.

Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Dookeran will act as Prime Minister in Persad-Bissessar’s absence.