Financial crisis, trade, CHOGM top agenda for Caribbean business media

The global financial crisis, trade negotiations and agreements, environment and climate change, and regional integration topped the agenda for debate during a gathering of senior Caribbean business media in the Trinidad and Tobago capital, Port of Spain, from 3 to 5 June 2009.

Some 21 journalists from the region attended the event and listened to top government and business leaders and commentators, including Trinidad and Tobago Trade and Industry Minister Senator Mariano Browne, Trinidad and Tobago Central Bank Governor Dr Ewart Williams, former Caribbean diplomat Sir Ronald Sanders, Commonwealth Secretariat Economic Adviser Cheryl Bruce, Columbia University New York Adjunct Professor Anya Stiglitz and Dr Hamid Rashid, a Senior Policy Adviser at the United Nations Development Programme who once served as a trade negotiator in Bangladesh.

The outreach event aimed to foster debate among business media on global issues of interest to the Caribbean, and to solidify partnerships with media in the region, with leaders of the 53-member Commonwealth set to converge on Port of Spain from 27 to 29 November for their biennial summit.

Sharifa Ali-Abdullah, senior co-ordinator at the National Secretariat for CHOGM 2009, gave a talk on some of the substantial issues that may be discussed by leaders at the meeting, while Commonwealth Secretariat Deputy Spokesperson Manoah Esipisu and National Secretariat Communications Co-ordinator Felipe Noguera conducted a media logistics briefing.

The media event was convened by the Commonwealth Secretariat in collaboration with the National Secretariat for CHOGM 2009 (http://www.chogm2009.com/), the Caribbean Broadcasting Union (http://www.cananews.net/), and the Columbia University New York-based think-tank Initiative for Policy Dialogue (http://www.gsb.columbia.edu/ipd/).

“We found this meeting very informative in terms of issues the region is grappling with – integration, Economic Partnership Agreements, particular concerns of small developing island states. It was also particularly welcome to hear about the planning for CHOGM given that covering big meetings is always a challenge to media,” said Ruel Edwards of Grenada.

“The gravity of the global financial crisis has been driven home. I think sometimes when you live in a small island state it is not too obvious. I now have a small list of follow-up tasks and story ideas I want to work on back home,” added Julia Thompson from St Kitts and Nevis.

Veteran Caribbean journalist Anthony Fraser, an instructor at the event, told the journalists that successful coverage of CHOGM 2009 would largely depend on their initiative and drive. He urged them to prepare well, familiarise themselves with the issues on the CHOGM agenda and the leaders, and to take opportunities offered via interviews.

“It comes down to initiative and hard work. To cover a summit like CHOGM might entail, very often, working 18 hours a day. But the sacrifice is well worth it,” Mr Fraser said.

A highlight of the event was a field trip to the National Gas Company and the Point Lisas Industrial Estate in central Trinidad, where top executives highlighted the impact of the global financial crisis on oil and gas as well as other industries with roots in the sector.

Secretariat Links:

• Country Profile: Trinidad and Tobago

Related Websites:

• CHOGM 2009