T&T Diplomat Newsletter June 2008
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the T&T JUNE 2008 The Official Monthly Publication of the Embassy of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, Washington DC diplomat and Permanent Mission of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago to the Organization of American States From left to right, Prime Minister of Honourable Prime Minister Patrick Manning Trinidad and Tobago, Honourable Patrick Manning, Ambassador of Trinidad and Meets with US Government Officials in Tobago to the US, Her Excellency Glenda Washington DC Morean-Phillip and US Deputy Defense Secretary, Gordon England at the Her Excellency Glenda Morean-Phillip Presents Pentagon on June 23rd, 2008. Credentials to US President George W. Bush DIASPORA FOCUS Gabriel Christian Makes His Contribution to Caribbean Heritage FEATURE SPEECH Honourable Prime Minister Patrick Manning Opens The Economist Business Roundtable SPOTLIGHT ON T&T WONDERS The Chaguaramas National Heritage Park - www.ttembassy.com in this issue The Best-Kept Secret of the Western Peninsula & diplomatT T 3 Editor’s Note Contents of Table 4 Honourable Prime Minister Patrick Manning Meets with US Government Officials in Washington DC 6 Her Excellency Glenda Morean-Phillip Presents Credentials to US President George W. Bush 8 5,000 Culture Enthusiasts View the “Art of Trinidad and Tobago” 10 DIASPORA FOCUS Gabriel Christian Makes His Contribution to Caribbean Heritage 2 12 Trinidad and Tobago Delegation Performs Hat Trick at the IADB Camaraderie Fietsa 13 FEATURE SPEECH Honourable Prime Minister Patrick Manning Opens The Economist Business Roundtable 17 SPOTLIGHT ON T&T WONDERS The Chaguaramas National Heritage Park - The Best-Kept Secret of the Western Peninsula 19 YOUR VOICE Feedback, Comments, News and Views from our Readers 20 UPCOMING EVENTS T&T Working Women’s Committee Fundraiser and Dance Editor’s Note Dear Readers, Our first issue of The T&T Diplomat was a resounding success. We are deeply appreciative of the numerous commendations which we received and are extremely happy that this publication is being read by diplomats, businesspersons, academians, students and other professionals – all over the world. In this second issue of The T&T Diplomat, we have introduced the Diaspora Focus, with a view to broadening the awareness of our nationals and our wider audience of the significant contributions that have been made by Caribbean people to the socio-economic, political and cultural development of the Diaspora in the Washington DC metropolitan area. This section further concretizes our overarching commitment to regional integration – a process which extends beyond the CARICOM Single Market and Economy to an integrated Caribbean Diaspora. Our June Issue also features a speech which was delivered by Honourable Prime Minister Patrick Manning at the opening of a Business Roundtable which was organized by the Economist Intelligence Unit, a subsidiary of the world-renowned Economist Magazine. We encourage you to take the time to read this speech which provides comprehensive details on the unprecedented 3 development which is being experienced in Trinidad and Tobago. Your submission of information on developments which are taking place within the T&T community of nationals in the Washington DC metropolitan area is critical to the ongoing development of this publication, for the true measure of the success of our community is not limited to the advancement of our lives, individually, but extends to the enhancement of the quality of life of those around us. Let us use The T&T Diplomat as a mechanism through which we can make public the world’s best kept secret – that Trinidad and Tobago, a small nation, just 1980 square miles and a population of 1.3 million people is making great big strides. God Bless you all. Monique McSween Editor in Chief Information Attaché Embassy of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, Washington DC & diplomatT T & diplomatT T Honourable Prime Minister Patrick Manning n June 23rd, 2008, Honourable Patrick Manning, Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago spent the day meeting with US Government Officials in Washington DC. The following OPhoto Essay captures the Honourable Prime Minister’s Official Meetings: Meeting with Congressman Eliot Engel at the Rayburn Office Building on Capitol Hill. Congressman Engel serves on the Energy and Commerce Committee including the Subcommittees on Health, and Telecommunications and the Internet. He is the Chairman of the Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, and serves on the Foreign Affairs Committee, the Subcommittee on Europe, and the Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia. In addition, he serves as Vice Chair of the Democratic Task Force on Homeland Security. Honourable Prime Minister Patrick Manning (right) is greeted by Congressman Eliot Engel (left) at the Rayburn Office Building on Capitol Hill. RIGHT Honourable Patrick Manning, Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, 4 (left) meets with Congressman Eliot Engel (right). Meeting with Ambassador John D. Negroponte, US Deputy Secretary of State, at the Department of State, Washington DC. Honourable Prime Minister Patrick Manning is greeted by Ambassador John D. Negroponte, US Deputy Secretary of State on arrival at the US Department of State. Ambassador Negroponte is the Department of State’s second highest ranking official. As Deputy Secretary of State, he assists Secretary Rice in the conduct of US foreign policy and functions as the chief operating officer of the Department. He also coordinates and supervises US Government activities overseas, represents the Departmentʼs position before Congress, and manages key foreign RIGHT policy issues on the Honourable Prime Minister Patrick Manning in discussion with Ambassador John D. Negroponte, US Deputy Secretaryʼs behalf. Secretary of State at the US Department of State. Ambassador Glenda Morean-Phillip looks on. Meets with US Government Officials in Washington DC Meeting with US Deputy Defense Secretary, Meeting with Policy Gordon England at the Pentagon. The Advisors of Republican Pentagon is the headquarters of the US Presidential Nominee, Department of Defense and is one of the Senator John McCain at world's largest office buildings. the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel, Washington DC. TOP From left to right, Honourable Prime Minister Patrick Manning, Her Excellency Glenda Morean-Phillip and US Deputy Defense Secretary, Gordon England at Mr. England’s office at the Pentagon. MIDDLE LEFT Honourable Prime Minister Patrick Manning (right) meets with US Deputy Defense Secretary, Gordon England (left) at the Pentagon. Gordon England is the 29th Deputy Secretary of Defense. He previously served as the 72nd and 73rd Secretary of the Navy and as the first Deputy Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. TOP Honourable Prime Minister Patrick 5 Manning (right) speaks with Mr. John McCormick, Adviser to Senator John McCain on Energy (left). LEFT Honourable Prime Minister Patrick Manning (right) greets Mr. Aaron Manaigo, Adviser to Senator John McCain and Policy Strategist (left). Honourable Prime Minister Patrick Manning listens attentively while Senator John McCain’s policy advisors Mr. Manaigo and Mr. McCormick make their presentation. Also in attendance at the meeting were Her Excellency Glenda Morean-Phillip, Ambassador of Trinidad and Tobago to the United States and Deputy Chief of Mission of the Embassy of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, Dr. Paul Byam. & diplomatT T & diplomatT T Her Excellency Glenda Morean-Phillip Presents Credentials to US President George W. Bush n June 6th, 2008, during the first week of countries. The Government of Trinidad and Caribbean-American Heritage Month, Her Tobago is particularly pleased at the OExcellency Glenda Morean-Phillip, collaboration and technical assistance provided Ambassador of Trinidad and Tobago to the United in several areas but I must specifically mention States presented her Letter of Credence to energy and security, two areas for which Prime President of the United States of America, Mr. Minister Patrick Manning has portfolio George W. Bush during a mid-day Presentation of responsibility within the sub-regional grouping of Credentials Ceremony which was held at the the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). In this White House. regard, Trinidad and Tobago appreciates the technical assistance given by the United States to It was no coincidence that Ambassador Morean- the CARICOM region for the staging in the Phillip presented credentials during the first week Caribbean of Cricket World Cup 2007, the third of Caribbean-American Heritage Month – to largest sporting event internationally, for which signal the start of a significant thirty-day period, unprecedented security initiatives were which marks the recognition and celebration of successfully implemented. the contribution of Caribbean people to the development of the United States. The United States also responded swiftly to the The following is an excerpt of the remarks request from Trinidad and Tobago to assist in our which were delivered by Ambassador Morean- country’s energy security initiatives through an Phillip on presenting her Letter of Credence to assessment of the critical infrastructure of our the President: energy sector, a sector which has provided, on average, some 68% of the liquefied natural gas “I bring the best wishes of the Government and requirements of the United States in the last six 6 People of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago to years and approximately 69% and 51% you, Mr President, and to the Government and respectively of ammonia and methanol. People