Arriving in Trinidad

Ever since we started CIDA, I have always had a deeply personal ambition to do work in the Caribbean - there have been a couple of false dawns but now finally it feels like a foot on this particular ladder. The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) is taking place in Trinidad this year and I have been invited to address the Commonwealth Business Forum (CBF) - this is one of the main activities that takes place during the week, and attracts Presidents, Ministers and leading businesses so it's a pretty spectacular forum - when I came through Immigration tonight at Port of Spain airport, the officer asked if I was with the conference and what was I going to be doing - when I told her, she clucked sympathetically and said 'Are you nervous?' - I said no automatically but suddenly thought to myself that that would probably change on the day! - then she asked what my topic was and I said Creative Industries - to my surprise (and pleasure!) she just nodded and said 'great!'

Very good flight - it was absolutely packed and full of diplomats and musicians in particular; Claudio Kron do Brazil, the really wonderful drummer from Brazil based in Dewsbury but who works all over the world, was sitting just behind me and he seeemed to know everyone so by the time we got to Port of Spain, there was a distinctly party atmosphere brewing! Claudio is apparently performing with a range of African and Caribbean musicians during the week but he seemed wonderfully uninformed about exactly what, where and when! At least we know we are all on the ship together (the CBF is taking place on board the Caribbean cruise liner Serenade of the Seas - they've taken over the whole ship for the four days and we're even staying on board.......this is the way to work!) -

The real joy of the flight, however, was when we landed briefly in St Lucia - I hadn't looked at my itinerary properly so it came as a bit of a surprise but, heavens above, what an amazing looking island - huge dark green mountains, like sugar loaf mountains in green, rising out of the sea guarding the harbours and beaches; very little development as far as I could see as we flew in ; spectacular white beaches in some areas but mostly high cliff coastline with the green growing right to the edge; why on earth would anyone live anywhere else?! I have been to, and for years have been in love with, Jamaica, Barbados and Antigua but I have to say I was knocked out by what I saw today - have to come back properly!

Found myself sitting next to a banker from Central Bank of Nigeria - only recently moved there from the City in London - fascinating discussion - we talked about the different personalities of the different countries in Africa - big generalisations of course but still with some truth - the sheer energy in Nigeria is almost palpable - he reckons they are the most naturally entrepreneurial country in the world, including the US - they don't have the appropriate infrastructure, physically as well as in terms of services and people, but it will come - they benchmark themselves against South Africa, apparently - but the feeling is that South Africa is heading into stormclouds whereas Nigeria is already under stormclouds so their future is to move into the sunshine!

So first night here - in a hotel tonight but can see the ship all lit up from my bedroom window - move in there tomorrow - just want to say thank you to the Arts Council and Kirklees Council for making it possible for me to be here - the CBF doesn't pay - but the biggest surprise all day has been the huge numbers of young people who are descending on this island for this event - not just performers but what I take to be social activists of one kind and another - the mix of accents is extraordinary - from every part of the world - apparently they are expecting 5000 visitors for the conference - how do you make impact on that?!