Cabinet Notes:The Cabinet invited the Permanent Representative of Antigua and Barbuda to the United Nations and the Chief Planner for the Small Island Developing States (SIDS4) Conference to its meeting to report on the progress being made thus far in preparation for this May 27th to 30th important, international conference.
More than 3,000 delegates are scheduled to attend the Conference and sufficient accommodation has been assured for the delegates.
Several large countries arranged to take over several hotels and have assured the Antigua and Barbuda planners that they will provide accommodation to a number of Heads of delegation.
The USA will house 14, India will house 13, and a number of other States that have arranged to take over hotels will also house Heads of State and of Government.
An examination of the conference center at AUA—that is to be used for plenary sessions during the Conference—was undertaken.
The APUA and the Ministry of Works are helping to ensure that the audio/visual systems to be relied upon during the Conference, provided at no cost by the People’s Republic of China, is correctly placed.
The landscaping on the immediate perimeter is to be up-scaled with the collaboration of the AUA.
The University will provide 20 staff to work on the inside of the conference center from early morning until late at night; 20 CBH staff will be working shifts to ensure the outside remains pristine.
The Ambassador reported that the pledges made by member states are sufficient, but the amounts have not yet all been received.
Several Food Courts will be available at the site; a field hospital will also be set up on the grounds at AUA, staffed with senior health personnel.
A temporary car park is also going to be built on the site to accommodate the many vehicles that will transport both delegates and staff to and from the AUA site.
