Augustus slams Govt over Mandela visit

Opposition Senator Roy Augustus has openly declared his displeasure at Government’s position with respect to the proposed visit, to these shores, by former South African President Nelson Mandela from April 29 to May 1. Augustus was speaking at a hastily-arranged press conference at CONCACAF’s office on Edward Street, Port-of-Spain yesterday. Also present at the press conference were Harold Taylor, president of the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) and Richard Groden, general secretary of the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation (TTFF).

Mandela, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and members of South Africa’s 2010 World Cup Bid Committee will visit Trinidad and Tobago for a three-day stay en route to Grenada for the CONCACAF Congress on May 2. During yesterday’s weekly Cabinet meeting, acting Foreign Minister Danny Montano stressed that, as part of international protocol, “especially if it is an official visit, that the Prime Minister (Patrick Manning) must meet Mr Mandela at the foot of the plane.”

But Augustus, executive director of the organising committee, affirmed that Mandela is a guest of Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) and as such would be met upon arrival by CONCACAF president Austin Jack Warner. Montano said, “That is not in accordance with normal protocol and that issue is unresolved.” The acting Foreign Minister is also in disagreement with the committee’s plans to invite patrons for a dinner at the Dr Joao Havelange Centre of Excellence, Tunapuna on April 30 at the cost of $1,000 per plate instead of Government’s proposal for a dinner to be held at President’s House, St Ann’s.

Augustus countered that officials from the Foreign Affairs Ministry were reluctant to attend a meeting with the organising committee on Wednesday but when they did arrive, they gave four concessions — that the Prime Minister must meet Mandela upon touch down at the airport on April 29; that Mandela must arrive at 2.30 pm, where he will be taken on a motorcade, via the Eastern Main Road to Port-of-Spain; Government will host a rally at the Queen’s Park Oval on April 30; and, on May 1, Manning will escort Mandela from the Hilton Trinidad to the Piarco International Airport where he will leave for Tobago (Mandela will leave Tobago for Grenada on May 2).

Describing Government’s position as an “act of deception,” Augustus admitted his shock and disgust upon hearing Government’s plans for the State dinner and their refusal for Mandela to speak at a joint sitting of Parliament on April 30. “They are replacing a joint sitting of Parliament with a fete at the Rotunda (of the Red House),” said Augustus. “He (Mandela) is the guest of CONCACAF and nobody will be allowed to do otherwise,” he added.

Augustus also revealed that letters were sent out to the Prime Minister, Education Minister Hazel Manning, National Security Minister Martin Joseph and Chief Secretary of the Tobago House of Assembly Orville London but only London has given a favourable response thus far. Warner, who is also vice-president of FIFA, is currently on official business in Cyprus, following which, he will go to Johannesburg, South Africa on Sunday for the inauguration of South African President Thabo Mbeki. After the inauguration, he and the South African delegates will leave on April 28, on a charter flight, for Trinidad.