By Paras Ramoutar,
Port-of-Spain, Sep 22 (IANS) Britain’s Queen Elizabeth would be there, but US President Barack Obama, who was invited as a special guest, won’t be attending the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) here in November due to pressing engagements.
Efforts initiated by CHOGM organisers to have Obama as a special guest had fallen through as his engagements did not permit him to visit the Caribbean, Felipe Noguera, communications coordinator at the CHOGM national secretariat, told a press conference.
He said Queen Elizabeth II, titular head of the Commonwealth, will be attending the Nov 27-29 meet with Prince Philip. Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will also be attending the summit.
Mmasekgoa Masire-Mwamba, deputy secretary general of the Commonwealth Secretariat, said that the government’s lavish spending at the summit would bring returns to the people of Trinidad and Tobago in areas of tourism and business investment.
She said: “The national secretariat has gone to lengths to ensure that the security provisions and security arrangements are in place.”
Prime Minister Patrick Manning’s government is leaving no stone unturned to ensure a professional and well-coordinated meet. Two tourist ships will be docked to provide additional beds for delegates.