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

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.

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

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?

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.

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.

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.

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!!