Government is ploughing $4 million into a "People's Space" at the Queen's Park Savannah to showcase local culture for the 5,000-plus guests expected at next month's Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM). The cultural port, which will be the "People's Space", will be the location for one segment of the week of CHOGM activities. This involves a people's forum taking place from November 23 to 26. "The People's Space will be a place where the people of the Commonwealth will communicate with each other and the residents of T&T. This an opportunity for all citizens to become involved in the CHOGM," Culture Minister Marlene McDonald said at yesterday's weekly Government media briefing. Cost so far for the "Space" initiative - still be to completed - was estimated at $4 million. The "People's Space" will be located at the savannah's paved area, obliquely opposite the National Academy for the Performing Arts, where CHOGM's opening ceremony will be held on November 27. The November summit, which will attract leaders from 52 other Commonwealth states apart from T&T, also will bring hundreds of foreign dignitaries, business people, youth and other representatives to the T&T for a week.
Recent Government estimates were that CHOGM will attract just as many as the 5,000-plus visitors who came to T&T for the Americas Summit in April. Some 700 guests are expected for the Commonwealth Business Forum alone, one of the aspects of the week of events during the CHOGM period. The week of events also will include a Commonwealth Youth Forum (November 19 to 23); State Visit of Queen Elizabeth II (November 26 to 28); Commonwealth Foreign Ministers' meeting and Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (November 25 to 26). McDonald said the "People's Space" will encourage "cultural dialogue" and will provide opportunities for people to discuss views pertinent to the people of the Commonwealth. It also will be a centre for local and international media. The venue will feature eight pavilions which will showcase T&T's culture. These include from aspects from T&T's heritage, vintage and Carnival arts, its culinary delights, the panyard and Carnival concepts, its liming tradition and East Indian culture.