Saturday, April 18 2009

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I stand strong: A defiant Daniel Ortega, President of Nicaragua, made a strong challenge to the policies of the United States in Latin America during ...

PRIME Minister Patrick Manning yesterday urged leaders at the Fifth Summit of the Americas not to become divisive over any one issue during their talks, a likely reference to the Cuban issue, as he addressed the opening ceremony of the meeting at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, Port-of- Spain last evening.

His calming advice came after an anti-American tirade by Nicaraguan leftist leader Daniel Ortega, and a response by United States President Barack Obama.

Manning, chairman of the summit, poured oil on troubled waters by identifying the Cuban question but staying neutral.

He said, “All of us would like to see a proper reintegration of Cuba into the institutions of the western hemisphere.” The crowd clapped.

He said Obama’s recent statements, including those made last evening, were reason for great optimism. Manning said, “We look forward to the day and I look forward to the day when Cuba can take its rightful place among its colleagues in the hemisphere.”

He did not take any side in the debate as to whether Cuba should first reform itself before rejoining the region. Manning then urged,“And so my dear friends, it will be a mistake if we allowed any one issue to dominate our deliberations.” He said the summit has three important matters on the agenda, referring to economy, ecology and energy. “It would be a tragedy if we allow any one issue to be a great source of discord among us. It will be an error of existential proportions if we are unable to conduct our business on the basis of cordiality and mutual respect.”

Manning urged the leaders not to fail their people in their hour of need by lacking the maturity to conduct business in a rational and objective manner.

“And let this Fifth Summit of the Americas be the first in a new approach that heralds in the western hemisphere the dawn of a new and brighter and better day. God bless you all.” The audience gave loud and sustained applause.

Manning, who received a standing ovation at the start of the ceremony, had begun on a cordial note by inviting Bolivian President Evo Morales, who has just come off a five-day hunger strike over electoral laws, to taste some doubles at Debe or Curepe Junction, following his previous quip to Newsday that the dishes of crab and callaloo, corn soup, and bake and shark should “set him right.” Morales did not seem to understand the offer, but Obama was heartily amused. Manning also addressed serious issues. He wondered how the one trillion US dollars pledged at the recent G20 meeting in London was going to be distributed, and whether the region would get its fair share as opposed to just Europe. He lamented that Caribbean states whose independence was predicated on their continued access to European markets were now losing these preferences under the Economic Partnership Agreement.

Manning warned that while the hemisphere has abundant oil and natural gas supplies, any improper relations between countries could make nuclear energy more attractive and create risks of nuclear proliferation. He urged more use of preventative healthcare, rather than costly treatment.

Manning said foreign terrorism imported into the region made it necessary to know where people are going, as he hailed the Advanced Passenger Information System. He lamented that the Caribbean lay between the southern drug-producers and northern drug-consumers, and so suffered from an overspill of drugs and guns that has fuelled crime.