Government putting in the final touches for 5th Summit
Monday 23rd March, 2009

Pigeons now find a home where vagrants once lived.

Tamarind Square, previously the home of the homeless but as the Fifth Summit of the Americas draws near, the Port-of- Spain City Corporation is busy beautifying the streets.

The Square will be re-planted and re-painted as it marks the first entry point out of the Priority Bus Route into the city of Port-of-Spain.

With just three weeks to go before thirty- four world leaders and an estimated 4,500 visitors and media gather in this country's capital, the infrastructure needed is still a long way from being completed.

Trees have been cleared at the Piarco International Airport to accommodate more aircraft but paving is yet to be completed.

The construction of the Beetham berm, which began last November, remains a mini- wall with the promised trees yet to be planted.

And the completion dates of hotels such as the Carlton Savannah have been pushed back leaving the Government to rent two cruise ships to satisfy accommodation needs.

But it's the International Waterfront Centre that'll be the spotlight for this historic meeting.

The final touches are taking place. Government has admitted that a walkover from the Promenade will not be completed in time for next month's Summit. In the meantime, though, a painted crossing in front of the breakfast shed is available for pedestrians.

Communications Co-ordinator at the National Secretariat, Felipe Noguera, believes if the Fifth Summit and the upcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in November are well- executed, they could market Trinidad and Tobago as a conference centre.

Mr Noguera says Trinidad and Tobago was selected in 2005 and the construction of the IFC was married to the idea of hosting the Summit.

He dismisses the suggestion that works being done in this country are simply for the Summit without consideration for the people of the country.

And Mr Noguera says it’s unlike the hosting of the Miss Universe pageant in 1999 where the Chaguaramas Convention Centre remains largely unused. He says the difference is in the audience.

The business community is hoping that with a slowing of the economy the Summit could provide opportunities for investments.