News & Current Affairs - Sunday, April 12, 2009 19:23

Regional: Trinidadians unimpressed with Summit of Americas $500m bill

By Ashmita Maharaj, Deputy Editor

Tags: CARICOM Affairs, Governance, Summit of the Americas

Via the Trinidad Guardian —

poll apr12

The Fifth Summit of the Americas conference in Trinidad and Tobago, starting Friday, was among the subjects respondents were asked to give their opinion during a nationwide survey on current issues conducted by the ANSA McAL Psychological Research Centre, UWI, St Augustine, for the Sunday Guardian. A representative random sample of 503 respondents comprised people 18 years and over, with 39 per cent Afro-Trinidadians, 42 per cent Indo-Trinidadians, 18 per cent Mixed Persons and one per cent of indeterminate race. The sample consisted of 48 per cent males.

The man in the street in T&T and the women, too, are looking on amused as Prime Minister Patrick Manning and his government engage in a spending spree of more than $500 million, at last count, to host the 33 visiting heads of state and their entourages for the Summit, which ends Sunday. More than half of the 503 respondents in an ANSA McAL Psychological Research Centre dismiss the Summit as merely an “eye game” opportunity to see US President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, in the flesh, walking and talking on T&T soil.

Seeing controversial heads like Venezuela’s Hugo Chavez is going to be a lagniappe, respondents indicated. A massive 73 per cent of respondents believe the huge financial outlay for Manning and company to hobnob with the movers and shakers of power in the western hemisphere is a distinct waste of time. They passionately feel the money would be better spent on healthcare and education, particularly as the country, despite experiencing an energy bonanza that enriched the Treasury, is now, nevertheless, gripped by the global financial crisis.

A little more than half of the respondents also told the pollsters they were not too interested in the goings-on at the Summit, primarily because few individual citizens would benefit from the Government deciding of its own accord it wanted to take centre stage and play host to the hemisphere’s political leaders. A few, however, saw a silver lining in the Summit cloud, in the sense that we just might be able to get some advice from the distinguished visitors on how to curb the runaway crime wave, as well as how to weather the recessionary onslaught. Asked if they agreed with the amount of money being spent to host the Summit, 73 per cent stressed loudly and clearly they didn’t, 17 per cent approved, while ten per cent had yet to form an opinion.

Trade, tourism to benefit

The minority percentage in favour of the Government taking the bite said the trade and tourism sectors could gain from the venture, and in any event, T&T could not have backed out, having given its word before the advent of the financial crisis, that it would host the Fifth Summit.

One respondent suggested that, in preparing for the Summit, the Government would get a hands-on idea of where the acute needs of the country lie. Another declared: “You have to spend money to make money.” The doubting Thomases who pooh-poohed the huge expenditure being incurred waxed lyrical. “There are too many poor and needy people in the country to waste so much,” said one respondent. “Money should be spent on bettering schools, hospitals, etc,” said another. “America is a bad influence, and we should strive to stay away from them and their values and avoid forming bonds with them,” said another respondent.

On the touchy subject of what benefits could accrue, 43 per cent believed we could gain, while a similar amount also ruled out any advantages coming our way, with 15 per cent stating they had yet to form an opinion. Among those who saw benefits for T&T was a respondent who declared: “It is drawing attention to the country, since Barack Obama is going to be here.” Others predicted our development thrust towards Vision 2020 would get a fillip. Some respondents were a little more wary.

“We will be recognised for the few weeks of the Summit (and) then when it ends, we will be forgotten,” said one respondent. Pressed by the pollsters on how interested they were in the actual hosting of the Summit, 49 per cent of respondents said they were keeping abreast of developments; it was outside the radar of 47 per cent, while four per cent were of no fixed view. “The Summit does not benefit the individuals in this country… no personal benefits for individual citizens,” said one respondent.

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Ashmita Maharaj · Trinidad & Tobago

Born in Trinidad and resident in Goa, India, Ashmita Maharaj is a controversial Trinidadian and a ‘consummate West Indian’, with a fondness of cricket, CARICOM and Caribbean culture.

ashmita@antillean.org

8 Comments

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Global Voices Online » Americas: The 5th Summit Gets Underway from Texas, United States
Apr 14, 2009 13:06

[...] blog Bajan Dream Diary has been following the Trinidad and Tobago mainstream media reports and republishes two stories – [...]

rebecca mohammed from Saint Andrew, Trinidad and Tobago
Apr 15, 2009 19:53

I feel that any benefits accrued from the summit, will be felt / experienced many, many years after the summit has been finished. Additionally, if there are any benefits they will not filter down to the people of Trinidad and Tobago. Rather, they will stop at the current government, who continue to starve, kidnap and murder the hardworking citizens of Trindad And Tobago.

Marcus from Saint Michael, Barbados
Apr 16, 2009 0:41

Rebecca, can you explain why you so strongly dislike the PNM? Can you prove any of what you just claimed?

VALINI from Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago
Apr 16, 2009 7:33

Marcus, Are you trinidadian? If you are then you will understand what rebecca is saying. There will be no benefit to the people paying for this summit. Manning and the PNM have squandered the money they received while in government and have not found it fit to even try and make a better life for Trinbagonians. Imagine we can’t have access to the accident and emergency entrance at the San ‘Do PUBLIC Hospital. Mt Hope may only provide limited facilities. We will have to endure HOURS AND HOURS of traffic because of the great PNM… now, marcus, you tell me.. why should we like a party that does not give a crap about the people?

Marcus from Saint Michael, Barbados
Apr 16, 2009 9:48

I’m not Trinidadian, I just wonder to what extent the PNM hate is more ‘an Indian party is not in power’ than ‘Patrick Manning is horrible’. I mean no offense – I just note a strange dichotomy among the Trinis I know where afros love him, Indians do not. Again I mean absolutely no offense but come on man – a murderer? kidnapper? These are serious allegations! I would hate to believe that my government is capable of doing such to citizens.

Welete Sion Phillips from United States
Apr 17, 2009 13:55

As Presisident Obama has said on numerous occasions ,that we cannot implement twenty-first century ideologies and fiscal policies using twentieth century methodologies.People need to:educate themselves more, with what is going on throughout the world and not what’s going on in their backyard alone;get more involved in what is going on in their communities and take collective responsibility for ensuring change;empower themselves and their children to work harder and act more responsible,like it mattered;stop the ‘small-mindedness when we should be taking a broader view of our commitments,dedication and contributions to ensure that our once beautiful country is restored to what it was. There was and always be crime, corruption and whatever lack there may be in all parts of the world;since the beginning of time.You must ask yourself what role did you and the many, play in eradicating or contributing to the good and welfare of humankind.Remember the colour of a man’s skin nor his/her ethnicity,can no longer determine his character/capacity;but the content,belief and fairness of the actions performed justifies the end to his/her means.I do agree with some of the previos comments, but the world has gone by and left a lot of people behind.It is time to wake up.

Michelle from Caroni, Trinidad and Tobago
Apr 18, 2009 9:34

I agree with Welete Sion Phillip, Rebecca also has a good arguement. Valini attempt to address Marcus comment also brings some good points. Marcus however has a misconception of Trinidadians.
We are an educated people.We decide how we vote according to what is presented to us, or what our benefits will be. We do not make decisions on race. We are a multicultural society. I have a friend who’s last name is Maharaj, she is not east Indian or of east indian decent and looks, sounds, or behaves nothing like an East Indian. I have many other friends and family members like that. The issue here is day to day life in Trinidad and Tobago. Do you know that The Ministry of Education Finance Department is waiting for the summit to be over to cut teachers salary. Thousands of people and their families are already placed on the breadline and food prices are sky rocketing everyday. It is survival of the ‘swiftest’ down here not what race supports what race. I personally resent that comment and believe that Marcus needs to get his FACTS straight. When the ‘Indian Party’ was in power the problems existed. Right now we really have ‘No Choice’. Mr. Manning is more than willing to help other countries but when comes to his own people he has no comment or is in another country seeking his popularity. Crime is a serious concern in this country. Please Marcus you are insulting and offending the intelligence of the people of Trinidad and Tobago.

rebecca mohammed from Saint George, Trinidad and Tobago
May 1, 2009 3:06

Way to go Michelle! Marcus must realize that we are not talking about race, but of survival. If his employment was threatened, people all around his country getting murdered, kidnapped and raped,food prices sky high, undependable health services where people from age one to one hundred dying at the hands of incompetent health professionals, nauseating traffic virtually everywhere, AND his Prime Minister spending HIS tax dollars on unnecessary things…… well, he go just have to dislike whoever in power…. afro, indian, chinese, syrian…….. you get the picture. Marcus, WAKE UP!!