Trinidad Express: Trinidad & Tobago Prime Minister Patrick Manning was "unfortunately" trying to catch up on a number of matters that were outstanding and was unable to meet Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez this week, Trade Minister Mariano Browne said yesterday.

Speaking at the post-Cabinet news conference, Browne said there would probably be a one-on-one meeting between the two leaders before the summit begins on April 17. "The meeting (last Saturday) was postponed because of some internal difficulties (in Venezuela) at Mr Chavez' request.

My information is that he (Chavez) had offered any other day this week if we (Manning) would have been able to make it. The unfortunate problem is that the prime minister has been trying to catch up on a number of matters which have been outstanding".

Browne added that Manning's trip to five Latin American countries last week was a "little gruelling", "so he has taken time to settle into his normal routine. So it has not been possible for us to get back to Mr Chavez," the trade minister stated. Asked what would be the response of the Government if any leader wanted to participate in the IV People's Summit, Browne said Government could not have a response for an individual country's desire, outside of what we have in our (the summit's) agenda. It will stretch us a bit if they were to attempt to do so. But we will have to make whatever decisions are necessary. Suffice to say that we are responsible for the Fifth Summit and not the People's Summit," he said.

Browne said the final traffic details would be published closer to the summit-by April 13. On the issue of the public holiday, he said Government would most likely adopt the position taken on Carnival Tuesday, which is not a public holiday but is a day on which Government offices are closed.  He said preparations for parking at the airport at the North Terminal would be finalised by April 3 and for the South Terminal by April 7. Browne said 90 per cent of the vehicles for use during the summit have been already delivered.

Manning is expected to travel to Cuba this weekend to undergo a routine medical check-up, following his surgery late last year to remove a cancerous left kidney.

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