TT to host Commonwealth Heads of Government in 2009
Trinidad and Tobago, which has produced the cricketer with the most runs in the history of the game and which become the smallest country to qualify for the World Cup football final, continues to make its name on the international scene at the Commonwealth Heads of Goverment (CHOGM) meeting in Valletta Malta on Saturday night, Trinidad was selected as the host of the 2009 Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting. Trinidad and Tobago beat India which had also expressed an interest in hosting the 52-nation summit. Government sources said yesterday that the much anticipated Harbour Development project which will be completed well before this time, would be an ideal site to host the conference. The facility involves a 24-storey hotel, a 22-storey office building, a convention Centre which would seat 1,800 and a car park which would be able to hold 1,200 cars. CHOGM meets every two years. The next meeting in 2007 will be held in Uganda. Sources said Trinidad and Tobago had expressed an interest since the last meeting in 2003. However the time seemed to be ripe at this conference, with all this country’s economic development, its international achievements and recognition as well as its long and untarnished tradition for democracy and human rights, to have earned the support of the 52 members to host the 2009 meeting. It is the first time that this country will be hosting a Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting. It had in the past hosted a Commonwealth Ministers of Finance Meeting. At this year’s meeting, Commonwealth leaders focused on the issues of trade, terrorism, migration, telecommunications, disaster preparedness and human rights. Prime Minister Patrick Manning is expected to return home this week. He will report to the Parliament on the meeting.
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"TT to host Commonwealth Heads of Government in 2009"