T&T ENCOURAGED BY WHITE HOUSE CONFERENCE

UNCLAS PORT OF SPAIN 000820

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR WHA/CAR

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KSUM KPAO TD
SUBJECT: T&T ENCOURAGED BY WHITE HOUSE CONFERENCE



1. SUMMARY: Trinidad and Tobago's participant at the July 9 White
House Conference on the Americas was enthusiastic about the
conference as a morale boost and supported the idea of more
regionally-based or subject-specific events in the future. T&T
along with other Caribbean countries would benefit from specialized
engagement to develop civil society organization capacity and build
government recognition and respect for the potential contributions
of such organizations. END SUMMARY.


2. Post provided funding for Rhonda Maingot, founder of Trinidad's
Living Water Community, a Catholic Charismatic Lay Community active
in ministering to the poor of Trinidad, to attend the Conference as
one of only a handful of Caribbean delegates and the only
participant from T&T. Maingot felt this conference was very
encouraging for NGOs and faith-based organizations in the
hemisphere, as it demonstrated the United States' interest in
"helping NGOs alleviate the plight of the poor." She especially
appreciated the USG's "vision" that includes a significant role for
NGOs, especially when contrasted with what she described as GOTT
ministries' dismissive attitude towards NGOs.


3. Maingot's sole criticism of the conference was that interaction
between participants was difficult in the context of a single-day
event. She was thus enthusiastic about the possibility of future
conferences or events with a subject matter or Caribbean focus. She
noted that she had shared her experiences from the conference with
members of her organization but not with local media or other
Trinbagonians.


4. COMMENT: Maingot's observation about the T&T government's
disregard for NGOs is not unique. Academic, business and
international organization contacts have also commented on the lack
of government recognition for NGOs and the limited development of
civil society organizations, both in T&T and throughout the
Caribbean. Some comment that T&T has functional democratic
institutions and therefore the need to develop civil society is less
urgent than in many Latin American countries. Others point to
ruling party resentment of NGO activities that provide grist for the
political opposition.


5. COMMENT CONTINUED: While T&T NGOs clearly would benefit from
further hemisphere-wide events, post believes NGOs in the
English-speaking Caribbean would gain more from smaller, more
focused events that take into account the circumstances of this
region in order to build local NGO capacity both to meet their
programmatic goals and simultaneously to develop more mature,
constructive relationships with governments. END COMMENT.

RIES