CANTO 2009 KEYNOTE:

HONORABLE PATRICK MANNING
Prime Minister Trinidad & Tobago
Monday 13th July 2009
Time: 9:15AM

The Honourable Patrick Manning was elected Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago on October 7th, 2002, his third time to that office.
Mr. Manning entered politics in 1971, at age 24, as the People's National Movement candidate for the Constituency of San Fernando East, emerging victorious in the General Election of that year. He has won this seat in every General Election since, totaling 9 contests to date. He is currently the Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance.
Born in San Fernando in 1946, Mr. Manning attained his primary and secondary education in South Trinidad, followed by his B.Sc. Degree (Special Honours) in Geology at the University of the West Indies, Mona, Jamaica. Mr. Manning has extensive experience in the Energy Industry. He is highly regarded in the local community for his integrity and his passionate commitment to the needs of the country's social sector.
In December 2003, Prime Minister Manning was awarded the Guyana Institute for Democracy "Democracy Prize" for his outstanding work in upholding the principles of democracy in the Caribbean region.
He is well-respected in the international community for his vision as a new-style Caribbean leader bent on having Trinidad and Tobago not only grow to developed country status on or before the year 2020, but simultaneously contribute to the development of fellow Regional States. In December 2004, he was awarded the Caribbean - Central American Action's "Star of the Caribbean Award", for his unwavering support of Caribbean neighbours in their time of distress.
In September 2007 Medgar Evers College of Brooklyn New York conferred The Doctor of Laws degree Honoris Causa on the Honourable Patrick Manning in recognition of his unflagging dedication during his thirty-six year tenure in public service.
Mr. Manning is married to the Honourable Hazel Manning, current Minister of Local Government, and they have two sons - Brian and David.

AMBASSADOR LOLITA APPLEWHAITE

Deputy Secretary-General CARICOM
Sunday 12th July 2009
Time: 5:00PM

Ambassador Lolita Applewhaite holds a Masters in International Public Policy from the School of Advanced International Studies, the Johns Hopkins University, Washington, D.C., and a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science, from the Institut d’Etudes Politiques, Universite d’Aix-Marseille, Aix-en-Provence, France.
Ambassador Applewhaite has a wealth of experience in International Relations, Administration and Policy Formulation. Before joining the CARICOM Secretariat where she holds the post of Deputy Secretary-General since July 2003, she served in the Barbados Diplomatic Service for over twenty years, holding postings in North America and Europe before concluding as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Barbados to Venezuela and to Brazil in 1992.
Ambassador Applewhaite has also served as Permanent Secretary in the Barbados Public Service in Ministries of the Environment, Tourism, International Transport, Education, Youth Affairs and Culture.

HONORABLE KENNEDY SWARATSINGH

Minister of Public Administration, Trinidad & TOBAGO
Ministers Roundtable Discussions
Monday, 13th July 2009
Time: 10:00AM

The Hon. Kennedy Swaratsingh is the Minister of Public Administration of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. His ministerial portfolio includes responsibility for public sector transformation and capacity building, and also the implementation of Trinidad and Tobago’s National Information and Communication Technology Strategy, fastforward.
Minister Swaratsingh brings a wealth of varied experience to his Office, having served previously as:

• Chief Executive Officer of the Trinidad and Tobago Government Human Resource Services Company Limited
• Director of retail operations for a large Caribbean multinational retail company
• A Human Resource Management Consultant and Lecturer
• A senior military officer in the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force
• A Parish Priest in the Roman Catholic Church

Minister Swaratsingh is deeply committed to Trinidad and Tobago’s vision of achieving developed country status by the year 2020. He views the development of an efficient and effective public service and the transformation of Trinidad and Tobago into a knowledge-based society as critical success factors for the achievement of Vision 2020.
Despite his many responsibilities, Minister Swaratsingh remains a devoted father and husband.