PM leaves for Mexico today

Manning was specially invited to attend the conference by Mexican President Felipe Calderon Hinojosa and WEF executive chairman Professor Klaus Schwab “in order that he (Manning) play a prominent role in the deliberations by actively contributing to a session on Central American growth.” A statement from the PM’s Office at Whitehall said the forum will provide a valuable opportunity for dialogue between government, business and civil society leaders ahead of the Fifth Summit of the Americas in Port-of-Spain in April 2009.

The TT Government will co-host a civil society forum in Miami next month that will discuss crime, rising food prices and other issues which will be discussed at next year’s summit. Government officials yesterday could neither confirm or deny whether a jet was being used to transport Manning to Mexico and back.

Manning will be accompanied to Mexico by senior officials from the Finance Ministry and the Central Bank. Minister in the Office of the PM Dr Lenny Saith will act as Prime Minister until Manning returns home on Thursday.