International developments taking place have raised the distinct possibility of US President Barack Obama coming to Trinidad and Tobago once again, along with Chinese President Hu Jintao, Prime Minister of Spain, Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapetero, and President of Brazil Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
A late momentum is developing which could see these major world figures coming to Trinidad and Tobago next week to participate in what would normally be a conference exclusive to Heads of Government of Commonwealth countries.
Climate change is the catalyst and motivating factor, UN-based sources outside of Trinidad and Tobago stated yesterday.
Already, non-Commonwealth personalities, Lars Lokke Rasmussen, Prime Minister of Denmark; and UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki Moon; the co-hosts of the climate change conference to be held in Copenhagen, Denmark, between December 7 and 16, together with French President, Nicolas Sarkozy, who is on an urgent mission to secure a climate change agreement, will definitely be in Port of Spain during next week’s meeting, Prime Minister Manning has confirmed.
But sources revealed yesterday that in the wake of the failure of China and the United States to hammer out an agreement during Obama’s recent visit there, and the developing activity around the world -which includes Sarkozy meeting with Amazonian countries to treat with the climate change issue-it was now very possible that both leaders would be in Port of Spain during CHOGM.
Asked about the matter in a brief telephone interview last evening, Foreign Affairs Minister Paula Gopee-Scoon said: ’I wish not to comment on those reports.’
Chen Yang, Political Affairs attache at the Chinese Embassy in Port of Spain said last night that they were ’still awaiting a response’ from China when asked if the Chinese president would be here next week.
US Embassy public affairs officer, Matthew V Cassetta, meanwhile, said he had received no official communication that either Obama or US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton would be flying to this country.
’At this point in time we have no indication that either of them has expressed an interest or plan to attend,’ he said.
CHOGM has not within recent times attracted this kind of attraction. It is unprecedented that countries not related to the Commonwealth will be participating in the conference.
But it is the impending United Nations Climate Change conference that has given this added dimension. And this is reflected in the words of the Prime Minister in his address to the nation on Wednesday night: ’I should also advise you that our country has been at the centre of almost frenzied activity among leading nations from both the developed and developing world as we seek to ensure that we take the strongest possible position in preparation for the Copenhagen meeting.’
Government officials said last night that the persons who attended the Fifth Summit of the Americas conference in April this year left with the highest opinion of this country, and therefore they felt Trinidad and Tobago was conducive to discussing the issue of climate change without being distracted with demonstrations and other such activities.
’That is the feeling among leaders in the international community and it is a tribute to the management of that conference as well as the country’s leadership,’ the official said.
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/print?id=161560068 
so we building many smelters, and steel plants......but we gone host climate talks in we country?
