Adviser to National Security Minister John Sandy, Roy Augustus has revealed that the upcoming visit of former US Secretary of State, General Colin Powell (retired) and his wife, Alma, will be of no cost to the Government. The Powells are expected in Trinidad tomorrow until Monday, to celebrate the launch of the National Structured Mentoring Programme. Augustus made the disclosure yesterday while addressing GAYAP Violence Prevention Peace and Love Movement's workshop on violence prevention at The Church on the Rock, Lady Young Road, Morvant, on behalf of Sandy who returned from a organisation of American States (OAS) in Washington DC yesterday.
Augustus said: "The Powells would be traveling on private jet belonging to the husband of American Ambassador to T&T Beatrice Wilkinson-Welters." "Also, the Powells have waived their normal appearance fees for the visit to T&T," he added. Augustus said the involvement of the former US Secretary of State in the launch, will bring a level of importance to the project and part of his ministry's three pillar approach on crime and gang violence. "The ministry, in its crime strategies is focusing more on intervention and prevention methods of crime fighting as opposed to suppression, which is sometimes necessary," he said. National Security Minister Sandy is expected to speak at the three-day forum tomorrow.