Tuesday February 9th, 2010
- Last update:15 hours 27 min ago
Whitehall to become Protocol House
Published: 9 Sep 2009
Whitehall, which was previously used as the Office of the Prime Minister, is to be converted into a protocol house for visiting heads of state and government. This is one of the provisions of the 2009/2010 budget, which is contained in the Supplementary Public Sector Investment Programme 2010.
Located at the Queen’s Park West, Whitehall is one of the Magnificent Seven buildings around the Queen’s Park Savannah in Port-of-Spain. It was used as the office of the country’s first and second Prime Ministers Dr Eric Williams and George Chambers as well as former prime minister Basdeo Panday. It was also used as the Office of Prime Minister Patrick Manning in an earlier term.
No further details were given about the project. Meanwhile work is continuing on the restoration of Parliament’s Red House building.
The Supplementary Public Sector Investment Programme for 2010 confirms this proposed development. To date, the sum of $67 million has been spent on the Red House project.
Exactly what is a "protocol
Exactly what is a "protocol house"? A hotel or guest house? Will it have permanent catering facilities and permanent staff, including protocol officers, chauffeurs, cooks, cleaners, bottlewashers,masseures etc? Will it be used free of charge whether or not these Heads and their entourages are on state, official or private visits? Will the Heads, including those from up the islands who come with their begging bowls regularly to pay homage to the Emperor be flown in by executive jet and helicopter? Will minister Hunte give us any idea of the recurrent costs? What about the other dilapidated magnificent seven? Would they be hidden by Imbert's berms so the Heads would be spared these eyesores?
The Prince, our Mr. Manning
The Prince, our Mr. Manning visited Dubai last year. Dubai got a Protocol House - Our Mr. Manning must have one too. Haven't you noticed that ever visit the Emperor makes offshore, he returns and redies his staff to put another layer of icing on his cake.
I'll take a guess here; I think a Protocol House is kind of like a Temporary Agency - secretarial pool! You never know. With your international expertise and your eloguence, I think you might be the ideal candidate to head this House. How's your etiquette and diplomatic qualifications? Shall we nominate you for this prestigious position? Just give us the word. You can become The King in a flash. I am sure someone in the know will answer all your pertinent questions soon. Just hang in there.
Richard Lord, you got to do
Richard Lord, you got to do better. You tell us we will now have a Protocol House - it says so in the 2009/2010 budget. It sound upper-crust. But you must 'educate' us on what exactly it is. Is it a 'house' for the visiting dignitaries to live in while they visit, (but we already have Presidential Suites in our 5-Star Hotels), or is it just a name like the 'Pancake House' where you can get pancakes for breakfast, plus coffee. Like I told you before, we are simple people in T&T and we do need information that is in plain and simple english. Can you help us out .. bring us up to par with our First World Status cuntry folks. Our Mr. Manning is stepping up with us to First World Status by 2020 and we need to be prepared. Can you find out for us whether there is a Protocol - Etiquette Manual for us to study in preparation for the day when we welcome our honoured guests. You don't want us to embarass our Mr. Manning, do you.
Dear Richard
Dear Richard
Would you be kind enough to also make inquiries as to:
- How much is this latest 'walk on the wild side' going to cost us;
- What is wrong with the facilities at the Hyatt or the Hilton that a 'Protocol Room' could not be established there? If they were good enough for President Obama's visit, I do not understand why they are 'not good enough' for VVIP visitors who may only be in Trinidad (can't even say Tobago!) for two or three days.
- What abot the empty towers by the Hyatt? Whilst I understand/appreciate there may be a desire for a 'productive' use for Whitehall to be found, what is wrong with the new buildings that ought to already have the technological infrastructure?
- How many 'dignitaries and/Heads of State' and the anticipated length of their visits we are expecting over the next 3-4 years once the CHOGM is over, to warrant a whole building to be converted?
- Are there plans for a heliport to be included? If yes, is planning permission required and been obtained (rhetorical question)?
- Will there be a moat (also a rhetorical question)? (To provide access for our newly acquired coastal ships and to provide security for the 'dignitaries and/Heads of State' )
- Who will have the contract for upgrading the building?
- Will the building be mothballed when there are no 'dignitaries and/Heads of State' visiting? What about the staff? Will they be brought in specifically for each visit or will they be permanently staffed there? If permanently staffed there, this means salaries will have to be paid, 'dignitaries and/Heads of State' visiting or not...
- (tongue in cheek) What would be the rental value on this building upon completion, for property tax purposes...
Thank you in advance.
La Diva
Will tea and crumpets be
Will tea and crumpets be served?
http://dsaltsman.blogspot.com/
epsomsalts... you are
epsomsalts... you are killing me here! (^_^)
La Diva
Do you have any 'Grey
Do you have any 'Grey Poupon'??
All jokes aside. Why is it
All jokes aside. Why is it that every time this rock head man (not my words--ANR Robinson said it--he has a degree in Geology) gets an idea to spend TAX PAYERS money he just goes off on a whim and does it without the consenus of the people. It's like he is stabbing you and smiling, twisting the knife and telling you at the same time don't worry I won't hurt you. After he is long gone all of these buildings will be worth nought considering the maintenance issues/costs. People of T&T have to let him know that what he is doing is painful on people's pockets. All we do is talk...
Trinis should take a leaf
Trinis should take a leaf out of the book caused to be written by the citizens ruled by their former colonial masters. When the poll tax was introduced in Scotland by the Iron Lady who thought that she was impregnable the peasants revolted and Waterloo beheld her soon after the cricketing metaphor was formulated and delivered as a googly by the (now)noble Lord Howe in the English Parliament. The rest is well documented recent political history from which there are important lessons to be learnt.
Trini in NY
Trini in NY
gets an idea to spend TAX PAYERS money
It is not just the tax payers' money that is being spent, but it is the money of the babies (!), children, teenagers, housewives/husbands, pensioners, any other group I have left out... that are being spent here. It is 'all ah we' money. All the money we have 'earnt' as a result of our natural resources.
Hence, when I have posted, I have been very clear about it being our money.
La Diva
Why was the Diplomatic
Why was the Diplomatic Center built, if not to host foreign Heads of State.
BOBOL HOUSE I think that a
BOBOL HOUSE
I think that a better name would be "BOBOL HOUSE."