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UWI IIR hosts visit by UK Minister of State

With a three-year economic lag behind the U.S., Trinidad should be preparing for the worst.

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad — When I was a child visiting my father’s country of Trinidad, where progress, it was often said, was roughly about 20 years behind the States, I could see this was true. By 1980, we had two color television sets in our home in New York, but the small 12-inch black and white TV my father brought to his family in Chaguanas was the only one on the block. The cases upon cases of beer and soda he bought to stock the kitchen when we visited were a wonder of excess to the neighbors, and our American clothes and shoes were a source of endless fascination to the local kids. Except for Coca Cola, Pepsi and some Nestle products, there were few American conveniences to be had at the local supermarket, which was little more than what would be called a corner shop in New York.

(via forbes)

“They have gone as far as saying that if something happened to President Obama they would expect he would be treated in Trinidad and Tobago by our health care system, and they are going to put out a statement,” Narace said while talking to reporters at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, Mt Hope. Narace gave this response when asked about the information contained at the US Department of State website which advised persons visiting this country to ensure they had “comprehensive travel and medical insurance” since “medical care is limited compared to that in the United States.”

Asked what officials had visited the local facilities to see the readiness to treat leaders such as Obama, Narace said the question should be posed to the US Embassy.

Asked about how much additional resources would be available for the summit, Narace said the resources used in the case of a disaster “have been adapted, and detailed information about doctors and nurses will follow shortly.”

The Consular Section shall be closed from April 6 to April 20, in preparation for the Summit and for the actual event.

The statement said: “All regular non-immigrant visa applicants and American citizens anticipating regular service need to plan accordingly.

“No exceptions for regular services will be allowed.”

The Embassy however added that its Consular Section is always available to help US citizens with life-threatening emergencies at any time.

“American citizens with legitimate emergencies should call (868)-622-6371.”

Williams acknowledged that Tobago’s economy could suffer considerable negative fallout by the shelving of the Plymouth Jazz Festival, hence the reason for staging the “Jazz Experience.”

That, he said, ought to minimise the impact particularly on the island’s tourism sector.

Williams revealed that noted jazz exponent, George Benson, is being proposed as the headline act for the event which would showcase the various genres of jazz, including traditional, pan, Latin, calypso jazz, rhythm and blues etc.

A mix of local and regional artistes will also be featured in the “Experience”, which, according to Williams, would be funded by a variety of sponsors including the THA. It is to be staged at various venues throughout the island from Pigeon Point on the southwest to Speyside on the far north-east end, and would be co-ordinated by John Arnold, events co-ordinator at the Tourism Division.

Giving a detailed breakdown of the planned format, Williams disclosed the event is to get underway on Wednesday, April 22, with a jazz concert at the Milford Road Esplanade in lower Scarborough, featuring some of the country’s leading jazz groups.

According to Williams, this opening concert is being sponsored by the THA Division of Tourism and Transportation, and is scheduled to start at 7 pm.

The following day, Thursday, April 23, the action shifts to the Pigeon Point Heritage Park at 7.30 pm for Latin-flavoured jazz featuring the Cuban group “CaneFire”, in a presentation promoted by “Production One”. Pan Jazz, featuring Andy Narell and Liam Teague, among others, takes centre stage in a Pan Trinbago production at the Montgomery Recreation Ground, Bethel, on Friday April 24 at 8 pm.

The following day, Saturday April 25, will feature jazz on the beach at Mt Irvine from 10 am, sponsored by the Mt Irvine Bay Hotel, as well as a THA-sponsored “beach jazz” session at Speyside at 11 am and later, at 8 pm, Pan Jazz sponsored by Pan Trinbago.

The “Jazz Experience” culminates on Sunday April 26, with an all-day affair dubbed “Sun, Sea and Jazz” from 10 am at Pigeon Point Heritage Park featuring local jazz artistes and George Benson possibly as the headline act.
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