Memorable Portion of Speech:

"What I am saying is that it may be possible for all of us, globally, to sit together in a forum such as the African Union and solve some of our problems together.

Given our country’s technological achievements in the energy sector, the government of Trinidad and Tobago has taken the decision to make our expertise in the sector available free of charge to a number of West African countries.

 The countries involved are Chad, Nigeria, Cameroon, Equitorial Guinea, Gabon, the Republic of Congo and Angola.

In this regard Trinidad and Tobago, is punching above its weight in the international community.

We see this as Trinidad and Tobago’s contribution to Africa’s achievement of the United Nation’s Millennium Goals.

In closing Mr. Chairman your Excellencies let me once again reiterate what a privilege it is for me to stand among my African brothers and sisters.

 Tremendous strides have been made by us on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean, the scars of slavery, the slave trade and consequent diasporic separation are not fully healed.

This notwithstanding, with an abundance, nay an excess of caution, I pledge the support of Trinidad and Tobago to Africa in this time of challenge, whether it is in technical cooperation, in the area of cultural cooperation or in the fact that our shared genes give us a basis to sit down and reason together.

Let us therefore go forward together with a far greater level of co-operation and exchange.

Let us go forward in hope, brotherhood and commitment.

Mr Chairman, Distinguished Ladies and gentlemen, I thank you for your attention. May Almighty God bless all of you. May Almighty God bless our nations."

Trinidad & Tobago's Prime Minister Patrick Manning to the African Union in Addis Abba Ethiopia in Jan. 2007

Full Speech

Last Updated: 02.07.2007