PM invites Cherie Blair to T&T

London: Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has invited the wife of former British Prime Minister Tony Blair to visit Trinidad and Tobago in September for a conference on women empowerment.

The prime minister is currently in London for a series of events to mark Commonwealth Day. Persad-Bissessar is the chairman of the Commonwealth for two years by virtue of Trinidad and Tobago having hosted the 2009 Commonwealth Heads of Government Conference.

Mrs Blair told reporters that she was "delighted" to have received the invitation, but gave no commitment on her attendance. She invited the prime minister to partner with her foundation, The Cheir Blair Foundation for Women, on spreading mobile technology to women as a means of empowerment, an initiative Blair launched last year with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar has agreed to work with Blair in this regard.

The prime minister earlier addressed the opening of the Commonwealth Local Government Conference and Expedition in Cardiff, Wales, where she encouraged local government representatives to empower their constituents by giving them ownership of their projects. She says this move would help create more leaders in societies.

Following the conference, entertainers Machel Montano and Denyse Plummer performed for guests. They are part of a cultural contingent accompanying the prime minister.