The Fifth Summit of the Americas started here yesterday and there is a lot of hullabaloo about it from everyone for different reasons - the squandermania by our PM in some lame attempt to impress foreign heads of government, unions not being able to protest near the summit venue, citizens questioning the alleged benefits of hosting it here, among others. And I share passionate views about the Summit and all these issues, but sharing them on my journal has never been my style.
US President Barack Obama greets PM of Trinidad and Tobago Patrick Manning at the start of the Fifth Summit of the Americas in Port of Spain, Trinidad.However, I will say there is a definite up-side and a down-side to the dratted summit. The up-side was I got Friday off cause my office was part of the restricted zone and we had no choice but to close. The down-side? What's the point of a 3-day weekend when you cannot go anywhere? Obama landed yesterday and they took the entire west-bound lane of the highway for him and the other delegates to get to and from the airport quickly, making the east-bound lane, which on a normal day, is congested, a dual carriage-way. You cannot get to the cinema, the good shops, the good restaurants.
I instead chose a day in the country, which I enjoyed immensely - sitting alone in the park, with a book and a picnic basket. So many things on my mind but under a Caribbean sun with the sound of children laughing, they did not feel so deep and dark as they probably would have, if I stayed at home.
Isn't Chavez sexy though?
Are you for real about Chavez? He looks like the unlovely Mugabe to me.
ReplyDeleteLucky you having a long weekend and a day in the country. I envy you your Caribbean sun right now.
they did the same here during the NATO summit a couple of weeks ago, blocking ALL the streets in the immediate areas, residents only allowed to and from their home together with a policeman. So stupid! No cheering in the streets, nothing! When Bush visited it was even worse! People had to keep their windows closed, garages were checked and sealed, drainage outlets SOTTERED CLOSED! geeeeez I think it's a bit of over-kill (pun not intended lol)
ReplyDeleteSexy is not just physical.
ReplyDeleteSexy? Hmmm haha I guess I'd have to see a little more of him around to make that conclusion.
ReplyDeleteSigh. I guess what we see of Chavez here in this part of the world is charisma, confidence and relentlessness. Love him or hate him, Chavez is a force to be reckoned with - he does not care what people think, he has no love for the mighty oppressor, and yet there are those who still love him, despite his despotism. There is a certain energy which always surrounds El Presidente and THAT is what I find sexy.
ReplyDeleteFair enough Tam, not me though. Relentlessness does not spell sexy to me (or philandering) in any way shape or form.
ReplyDeleteWhilst I somewhat acknowledge the validity of his politics I do think in the post Bush US, he'll now have a harder time maintaining the anti US stance necessary to keep his particular brand of Bolivarianism popular.
I agree that it takes all kinds...
We got a day off in Sydney for the APEC (Asia Pacific Economic Commission?) Summit last year. Roads blocked off, city a no-go area. We went to the pub.
ReplyDelete