PM Golding To Attend Fifth Summit of the Americas

APRIL 17, 2009

PM GOLDING JOINS LEADERS IN TRINIDAD FOR 5^TH

SUMMIT OF THE AMERICAS

Prime Minister Bruce Golding, along with other members of Jamaica's delegation arrived in Port of Spain Trinidad last night to attend the 5^th Summit of the Americas which begins this morning at 9:00 with a caucus of the Caricom Heads. They were met on arrival by officials of the Jamaica High commission in Trinidad.   

The theme for the 2009 summit is ‘Securing our citizens' future by promoting human prosperity, energy security and environmental sustainability'. The theme is of particular importance in the context of the current global financial crisis and the economic recession.

The summit will also be seen in the context of the changes in leadership in the Americas since the last summit in Argentina in 2004.

Like several other heads in the region, this is Prime Minister Bruce Golding's first Summit, as well as a first for the new administration of the United States, led by President Barack Obama. The US President is expected to arrive in Trinidad later today. President Obama's meeting with regional heads is expected to give him an opportunity to outline his administration's policy towards the region.

During his Presidential campaign, President Obama promised a ‘new partnership for the Americas' through which he would open a new chapter of co-operation to address the common challenges of the hemisphere, including economic development, global warming, energy interdependence and the fight against drug trafficking and terror.

The official opening ceremony for the summit will be held this evening at the Hyatt Regency Hotel.  The plenary sessions will be held tomorrow.