What Is the Summit Of the Americas?

The Fifth Summit of the Americas will be held from April 17-19, 2009. The past four Summits were held in 1994, 1998, 2001, and 2005.

The island republic of Trinidad and Tobago will host this year’s Summit — the first Caribbean nation to do so.

The goal of every Summit is to find solutions to common concerns and better the lives of citizens throughout the Americas. This year’s agenda will focus on three critical issues: human prosperity, energy security, and environmental sustainability. Participants will also address economic recovery and poverty reduction in the face of the current global economic crisis, and climate change.

Active participants will present concerns and discuss issues in plenary sessions. On the third day, the 34 leaders will attend a retreat. At the conclusion of the Summit, leaders will sign a Declaration of Commitment that synthesizes the gathering’s key resolutions.

The Summit allows the democratic countries of the Western Hemisphere to better understand each other’s problems and positions, but more importantly, it’s a way for neighbor to help neighbor in the spirit of equality, equity, and mutual responsibility. Remember that the Summit participants attend on your behalf — the citizens who elected them. Make sure your voice is heard by visiting townhall.america.gov to offer comments, ask questions, and propose suggestions.