Opposition wants leaders to blank Caricom Summit

GAIL ALEXANDER
Published: 18 Mar 2010 Trinidad and Tobago Guardian

Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar has advised Caricom leaders not to attend an “unscheduled extra-ordinary” Caricom Summit which she said Government wants to host in T&T within the next few weeks. In a statement yesterday, Persad-Bissessar said she understood T&T undertook to carry the financial burden of all costs of bringing Caricom leaders here for the summit, inclusive of airfare and accommodation.
Calling for citizens to be told of the costs, Persad-Bissessar said Prime Minister Patrick Manning was attempting to create a distraction from controversial issues facing Government such as Udecott and the Guanapo church. Persad-Bissessar said T&T’s Opposition was calling on regional leaders to refuse participation in this sham. She added: “It is a feeble attempt by Mr Manning to move the national conversation away from corruption allegations and ineptitude of his administration.
“We wish to advise honourable heads of Caricom that the people of T&T will view their participation in this shameful exercise at the expense of taxpayers’ dollars here as a contribution to Manning’s squandering of our precious resources, especially at a time when our nation is reeling under the pressure of so many urgent social needs.”
Persad-Bissessar added: “Should the Manning administration proceed with this circus of extravaganza at the people’s expense, we propose to alert all political groups, civic organisations and special interest groups to join in protest against the hosting of this wasteful expression of arrogance and contempt for the people. (GA)