Chairman of Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) 2009, Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago Honourable Patrick Manning has praised President Mohamed Nasheed, in his remarks at the opening ceremony of the CHOGM 2009.

In his remarks, Prime Minister Manning said in his meeting with President Nasheed, during UN General Assembly in September, he recognised President Nasheed as a very talented man with great attributes. He acknolwdged President Nasheed’s efforts to bring environmental prospects the Maldives and the world faced to the attention of the world, and especially noted the underwater cabinet meeting held on October 17.

CHOGM 2009 officially began yesterday in Port of Spain, capital of Trinidad and Tobago. The meeting was declared open by the Head of the Commonwealth Queen Elizabeth II.

Other heads of the governments attending CHOGM 2009 include Prime Minister Gordon Brown of Britain, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh of India, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd of Australia and the President Jacob Zuma of South Africa.

Heads of non-Commonwealth leaders attend the CHOGM this year for the first time in history. Non-Commonwealth leaders attending the Meeting are President Nicolas Sarkozy of France, and Prime Minister Lars Rasmussen of Denmark.

The Secretary-General of United Nations is also attending the CHOGM 2009, for the first time in history.