The Independent Voice of West Indies Cricket

Message Board Archives

When Trump visited Trinidad and Tobago in 1999

 
sgtdjones 2017-10-13 13:28:41 

When Trump visited Trinidad and Tobago in 1999

Donald Trump, who could become the most powerful person in the world, visited Trinidad and Tobago in May 1999 and promised to make business investments.

Trump, then the franchise owner of the annual Miss Universe beauty pageant, attended the 48th edition, held at a refurbished Chaguaramas Convention Centre.

Before the event, he was courted by the then-Basdeo Panday Government for possible business opportunities in this country.

He was whisked down-the-islands and he glibly promised to make tourism investments.

He also addressed businessmen.The Trump investments in T&T never materialised.

Then-Trade Minister Mervyn Assam spoke with assurance about investments as a result of T&T hosting the competition, which was viewed on CBS television by an estimated one billion people in 90 countries.


Link Text

 
sgtdjones 2017-10-13 13:29:12 

POTUS tinks we are two Countries.

Sigh.

 
jelfew 2017-10-13 13:37:23 

In reply to sgtdjones
What's the POINT you are making here?

 
sgtdjones 2017-10-13 13:38:48 

Lest we forget, a younger-looking, slimmer Donald came here in person for a couple of days in May 1999, when T&T hosted the second-Greatest Show on Earth (other than Carnival.)

And he loved it. T&T was “populated by bright, energetic individuals.” When there's a Miss Universe show “people around the world become familiar with the culture, the beauty and especially the philosophy” of the host country.

Lest we forget, a younger-looking, slimmer Donald came here in person for a couple of days in May 1999, when T&T hosted the second-Greatest Show on Earth (other than Carnival.)

And he loved it. T&T was “populated by bright, energetic individuals.” When there's a Miss Universe show “people around the world become familiar with the culture, the beauty and especially the philosophy” of the host country.


There were 33 business delegates invited, and talk of investments totaling up to $500 million in information technology and food processing.

Expecting plane-loads of tourists, Port of Spain hotels doubled their rates. Their rooms remained empty.

Worse, the airline was contracted to fly Miss Universe participants to Tobago. Instead, they travelled on BWIA'a short-lived rival, Air Caribbean.

Vendors paid $1,500 each to rent a booth on the Savannah. They had few sales.

Next disappointment: Trump said on his May 1999 visit that there was “a possibility of coming back here in a couple of years” for a second Miss Universe show in T&T. We have been sadly let down.

But hope lives eternal. Right up to 2012, Trump was talking to the local franchise holders about bringing the show back to T&T. “This will be great exposure for tourism,” they said.


T&T taxpayers paid at least TT$81 million for the privilege of hosting the pageant in a dilapidated hangar draped with black velvet. Back in 1999, that was real money.

But T&T did get its spot in the international limelight in May 1999. May 26, the day of the Miss Universe show, was also the day Dole Chadee lost his final fight in the Privy Council. A stay on his execution was lifted.

 
sgtdjones 2017-10-13 13:39:37 

In reply to jelfew

T&T taxpayers paid at least TT$81 million for the privilege of hosting the pageant in a dilapidated hangar draped with black velvet. Back in 1999, that was real money.



The shyster POTUS

 
jelfew 2017-10-13 14:02:36 

In reply to sgtdjones

Thanks. Having read through your post, I don't see where anything concrete was ever established with the T&T government and business people. It would seem that they were willing to gouge their T&T citizens based on the carnival talk of a visiting business man. Well, perhaps one thing was established. Trump was always a loose talker.

 
Larr Pullo 2017-10-13 14:49:05 

Just shows how Titties stupidee...