Obama, Chavez arrive today
Massive security in place as summit opens
Francis Joseph (Trinidad Guardian).
17-April-2009 - After months of preparation, the Fifth Summit of the Americas gets going this evening at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Port-of-Spain. Most of the Caricom leaders arrived in Trinidad yesterday, in time for this morning’s meeting of Caribbean heads aboard the Caribbean Princess, starting at seven o’clock. The remainder of the heads will fly in today—among them US President Barack Obama and Venezuela’s President, Hugo Chavez.
US Secretary of State, Hilary Clinton, will also arrive this afternoon from Haiti, where she held talks yesterday with that island’s President, Pierre Preval. Obama flies into Trinidad aboard Air Force One around 4 pm, after a one-day visit to Mexico to discuss, among other things, the battle against the drug cartels. He will be driven in the “Beast,” straight to the Hyatt, in time for the opening ceremony at 6 pm.
Security will be tight as the “Beast” travels along the Churchill Roosevelt Highway to the Hyatt. Curious onlookers are expected to turn out in their numbers to see the high-security vehicle, although they will not be able to see Obama. The US President’s entourage will be huge, security officials told the T&T Guardian last night. Security officials were busy at Piarco International Airport yesterday, preparing for the arrival of heads and their delegations. From the Piarco intersection, soldiers and police officers kept watch on vehicles and pedestrians along BWIA Boulevard. Both the new and old terminal buildings were busy with activity.
Most of the Caricom leaders arrived on commercial flights at the new terminal building. Antigua’s Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer arrived on Wednesday night, while the others came in yesterday. At the refurbished old terminal building, members of the Special Anti-Crime Unit (SAUTT) conducted special searches on all vehicles involved in escorting heads of State and their delegations. These included the vehicles to carry the heads of states, the police escort vehicles, police motorcycles, and PTSC buses carrying members of delegations.
“It was a very tedious task, but we have to ensure that everything was in order and safe for the visitors,” one soldier told the T&T Guardian. At the Hyatt, there was heightened security for today’s official opening of the summit. Several people said they received invitations for the opening yesterday. One of them was Jack Warner, in his capacity as Fifa vice-president. He respectfully declined.
WHAT’S ON TODAY
Fifth Summit of the Americas, Caricom caucus
Location: Caribbean Princess
Start: 7.00 am
End: 9.00 am
Dialogue among ministers of foreign affairs with sectoral actors
Location: Caribbean Princess.
Start: 9.00 am
End: 12.15 am
Lunch, hosted by Minister of Foreign Affairs, Paula Gopee-Scoon
Location: Caribbean Princess
Start 12.00 noon
End 2.00 pm
Fifth Summit of the Americas, opening ceremony
Location: Hyatt-Regency ballroom
Start: 6.00 pm
End: 8:00 pm
Heads of state cocktail reception
Location: Hyatt Regency
Start: 8.00 pm
End: 9.30 pm
Cocktail reception for other invited guests
Location: Outside Hyatt Regency ballroom, pool deck, Caribbean Princess
Start: 8.00 pm
End: 9.30 pm