Port-of-Spain, July 14 (Inditop.com) The bi-annual Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) summit scheduled here this November will go ahead despite the swine flu scare, and will be attended by Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh among other global leaders.
Manmohan Singh’s contingent to the Nov 27-29 summit will include Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi, according to information available with Trinidad government officials.
Officials assured the meet will take place despite the global outbreak of swine flu.
Deputy Secretary General of the Commonwealth Secretariat Ransford Smith said: “I wish to assure that internally we continue to be very much conscious as to the nature of this particular (swine flu) virus and we shall, as we go forward with the support and coordination of the ministry of health, address that matter as we move forward.”
Trinidad and Tobago has 65 confirmed swine flu cases now.
Minister of Health Jerry Narace said: “We are working with all groups to ensure that large gatherings of any kind are managed with the protocols we have set out for them.
“CHOGM is a high-profile meeting as 53 heads of government and thousands of delegates will assembly in Port-of-Spain. As host country, we understand the importance of this meeting and therefore, we will treat all with the necessary arrangements.”
Britian’s Queen Elizabeth II, titular head of the Commonwealth, will be attending the opening session in this former British colony, where 44 percent of the people are of Indian origin.
