# 5th Summit of the Americas

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5th Summit of the Americas 5th Summit of the Americas logo Host country Trinidad and Tobago Dates April 17–19, 2009 Cities Port of Spain Venues Hyatt Regency Trinidad Participants 33 Follows 4th Summit of the Americas Precedes 6th Summit of the Americas Website http://www.fifthsummitoftheamericas.org/

The **Fifth Summit of the Americas** (**VSOA**) was held at [Port of Spain](/source/Port_of_Spain) in [Trinidad and Tobago](/source/Trinidad_and_Tobago),[1] on April 17–19, 2009.[2]

Organizers planned for the Fifth Summit to focus on a wide-ranging theme: "Securing Our Citizens' Future by Promoting Human Prosperity, Energy Security and Environmental Sustainability."[3]

## Overview

The [Summits of the Americas](/source/Summits_of_the_Americas) are a continuing series of summits bringing together the leaders of [North America](/source/North_America), [Central America](/source/Central_America), the [Caribbean](/source/Caribbean) and [South America](/source/South_America). The function of these summits is to foster discussion of a variety of issues affecting the western hemisphere. These high-level summit meetings have been organized by a number of multilateral bodies under the aegis of the [Organization of American States](/source/Organization_of_American_States). In the early 1990s, what were formerly *ad hoc* summits came to be institutionalized into a regular "Summits of the Americas" conference program.[4]

- December 9–11, 1994 [5] -- [1st Summit of the Americas](/source/1st_Summit_of_the_Americas) at [Miami](/source/Miami%2C_Florida) in the [United States](/source/United_States).[6]

- December 7–8, 1996 [5] -- [Summit of the Americas on Sustainable Development](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Summit_of_the_Americas_on_Sustainable_Development&action=edit&redlink=1) at [Santa Cruz de la Sierra](/source/Santa_Cruz%2C_Bolivia) in [Bolivia](/source/Bolivia).[7]

- April 18–19, 1998 [5] -- [2nd Summit of the Americas](/source/2nd_Summit_of_the_Americas) at [Santiago](/source/Santiago_de_Chile) in [Chile](/source/Chile).[8]

- April 20–22, 2001 [5] -- [3rd Summit of the Americas](/source/3rd_Summit_of_the_Americas), in [Quebec City](/source/Quebec_City%2C_Quebec), [Canada](/source/Canada).[9]

- January 12–13, 2004 [5] -- [Monterrey Special Summit of the Americas](/source/Monterrey_Special_Summit_of_the_Americas) at [Monterrey](/source/Monterrey) in [Mexico](/source/Mexico).[10]

- November 4–5, 2005 [5] -- [4th Summit of the Americas](/source/4th_Summit_of_the_Americas) at [Mar del Plata](/source/Mar_del_Plata) in [Argentina](/source/Argentina).[11]

## Agenda

Group photo of leaders attending Port-of-Spain summit.

Partial group photo of leaders at the closing Port-of-Spain summit.

The host nation's task in organizing the summit programme was a multi-faceted challenge.[12]

The top issue at the summit was the current economic crisis, which also encompassed issues of access to increased credit and lending from multilateral banks, sub-regional banks and international development banks. Other issues included promoting human prosperity, energy security and [environmental sustainability](/source/Environmental_sustainability).[13]

Regional leaders had their first face-to-face meeting with [United States President](/source/United_States_President) [Barack Obama](/source/Barack_Obama) at the summit.[14]

Venezuela's [President](/source/President_of_Venezuela) [Hugo Chávez](/source/Hugo_Ch%C3%A1vez) used his first meeting with President Obama to argue in favor of lifting the US-led embargo of Cuba. Chávez also used the occasion to publicly present Obama with a copy of [Eduardo Galeano](/source/Eduardo_Galeano)'s 1971 book *[Open Veins of Latin America](/source/Open_Veins_of_Latin_America)*.[15]

## Security

The host country's Office for Disaster Preparedness and Management (ODPM) planned to ensure that they would be prepared to deal with the consequences of natural or man-made hazards which might impact the delegates during the Summit of the Americas. The Ministry of National Security and OPDM worked together in anticipation of over 4,000 visitors.[16]

Other American nations made security forces available during the international event. [Premier of Bermuda](/source/Premier_of_Bermuda) [Ewart Brown](/source/Ewart_Brown) offered to request 35 soldiers of the [Bermuda Regiment](/source/Bermuda_Regiment) to be sent,[17] but the offer was declined as unnecessary.[18] In preparation for the summit, the [Jamaica Defence Force](/source/Jamaica_Defence_Force) (JDF) and the [Jamaica Constabulary Force](/source/Jamaica_Constabulary_Force) (JCF) sent 124 officers for a three-week training program in Trinidad. The Jamaican contingent was briefed and given all the necessary resources and equipment, and they were expected to bring back to Jamaica any good ideas and best practices which might be observed during the operation.[19]

## Heads of State and Government

Summary of Leaders Flag and Country Head of State / Government Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer Argentina President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner Bahamas Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham Barbados Prime Minister David Thompson Belize Prime Minister Dean Barrow Bolivia President Evo Morales Brazil President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva Canada Prime Minister Stephen Harper Chile President Michelle Bachelet Colombia President Álvaro Uribe Costa Rica President Óscar Arias Dominica Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit Dominican Republic President Leonel Fernández Ecuador President Rafael Correa El Salvador President Tony Saca Grenada Prime Minister Tillman Thomas Guatemala President Álvaro Colom Guyana President Bharrat Jagdeo Haiti President René Garcia Préval Honduras President Manuel Zelaya Jamaica Prime Minister Bruce Golding Mexico President Felipe Calderón Nicaragua President Daniel Ortega Panama President Martín Torrijos Paraguay President Fernando Lugo Peru President Alan García Saint Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Denzil Douglas Saint Lucia Prime Minister Stephenson King Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves Suriname President Ronald Venetiaan Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Patrick Manning United States of America President Barack Obama Uruguay President Tabaré Vázquez Venezuela President Hugo Chávez

## Notes

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Previous Summits of the Americas - V Summit of the Americas"](https://summit-americas.org/sas/Previous_Summits_VSummit.html). *summit-americas.org*. Retrieved 2025-03-20.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** [Summit Americas](http://www.summit-americas.org/default.htm) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20090625221903/http://www.summit-americas.org/default.htm) 2009-06-25 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine): [V summit (5th)](http://www.summit-americas.org/v_summit.html) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20091202073335/http://www.summit-americas.org/v_summit.html) December 2, 2009, at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** [5th Summit of The Americas](http://fifthsummitoftheamericas.org/) (VSOA)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-twaddle382_4-0)** Twaddle, Andrew C. (2002). [*Health Care Reform Around the World,* p. 382.](https://books.google.com/books?id=71x7NlQ_xfgC&dq=summit+of+the+Americas&pg=PA382)

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-summits_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-summits_5-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-summits_5-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-summits_5-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-summits_5-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-summits_5-5) [Florida International University](/source/Florida_International_University), [Summit of the Americas Center](http://www.americasnet.net/home/about.htm) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20090527040557/http://www.americasnet.net/home/about.htm) May 27, 2009, at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine) (SOAC): [Summits list](http://www.americasnet.net/home/summits.htm) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20090427152152/http://www.americasnet.net/home/summits.htm) April 27, 2009, at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Summit Americas: [I summit (1st)](http://www.summit-americas.org/i_summit.html) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20110612191553/http://www.summit-americas.org/i_summit.html) 2011-06-12 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Summit Americas: [Sustainable development](http://www.summit-americas.org/summit_sd.html) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20090902092222/http://www.summit-americas.org/summit_sd.html) September 2, 2009, at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Summit Americas: [II summit (2nd)](http://www.summit-americas.org/ii_summit.html)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Summit Americas: [III summit (3rd)](http://www.summit-americas.org/iii_summit.html)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** Summit Americas: [Special](http://www.summit-americas.org/sp_summit.html)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** Summit Americas: [IV summit (4th)](http://www.summit-americas.org/iv_summit.html) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20110612192718/http://www.summit-americas.org/iv_summit.html) June 12, 2011, at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** Tack, Clint Chan. ["Summit programme takes shape,"](http://www.newsday.co.tt/news/0,95200.html) *Newsday* (Trinidad & Tobago). February 15, 2009.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** ["Economy will be top issue at 5th Americas Summit,"](https://web.archive.org/web/20090421193841/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-03/14/content_11008994.htm) Xinhua. March 14, 2009.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** Brooks, Lovelette. ["Summit of the Americas: Carib issues for Obamam"](http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20090322/lead/lead7.html) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20090324032456/http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20090322/lead/lead7.html) 2009-03-24 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine) *Jamaica Gleaner News* (Kingston). March 22, 2009.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** ["Chavez says he'll lobby Obama on Cuba at summit,"](http://www.etaiwannews.com/etn/news_content.php?id=895551&lang=eng_news) *Taiwan News.* March 18, 2009.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** Bagoo, Andre. ["ODPM activates emergency systems for Summit,"](http://www.newsday.co.tt/news/0,96823.html) *Newsday.* March 17, 2009.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** [Premier discusses world economy with CARICOM heads](http://www.royalgazette.com/siftology.royalgazette/Article/article.jsp?articleId=7d938b33003000f&sectionId=60)[*[permanent dead link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Link_rot)*], *[The Royal Gazette](/source/The_Royal_Gazette_(Bermuda))*, March 17, 2009

1. **[^](#cite_ref-18)** [Bermuda Regiment Deployment not required for upcoming Summit of the Americas](http://www.sflcn.com/story.php?id=5926) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20110716044246/http://www.sflcn.com/story.php?id=5926) 2011-07-16 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine), *South Florida Caribbean News*, April 20, 2009

1. **[^](#cite_ref-19)** ["J'can police, soldiers to provide security at Americas Summit,"](http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/html/20090326T200000-0500_148176_OBS_J_CAN_POLICE__SOLDIERS_TO_PROVIDE_SECURITY_AT_AMERICAS_SUMMIT.asp) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20090330045545/http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/html/20090326T200000-0500_148176_OBS_J_CAN_POLICE__SOLDIERS_TO_PROVIDE_SECURITY_AT_AMERICAS_SUMMIT.asp) 2009-03-30 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine) *Jamaica Observer* (Kingston). March 27, 2009.

## References

- Prieto, Alfredo. ["Everybody But Cuba,"](http://www.havanatimes.org/?p=7477)*Havana Times.* April 15, 2009.

- Twaddle, Andrew C. (2002). [*Health Care Reform Around the World*](https://books.google.com/books?id=71x7NlQ_xfgC). Westport, Connecticut: [Greenwood Publishing](/source/Greenwood_Publishing). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-86569-288-6](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-86569-288-6). [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [48132063](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/48132063).

## External links

- [Summits of the Americas](https://web.archive.org/web/20090228225002/http://www.summit-americas.org/)

- [5th Summit of The Americas](http://www.fifthsummitoftheamericas.org/)

- Summits of the Americas Follow-up System ([SISCA](http://www.oas.org/summit/sisca/Home/tabid/692/language/en-US/Default.aspx))

- [Follow-up and Implementation of Summits](https://web.archive.org/web/20110612204000/http://www.summit-americas.org/sisca.html)

Preceded by 4th Summit of the Americas Summits of the Americas 2009 Port of Spain Succeeded by 6th Summit of the Americas

v t e Summits of the Americas Regular 1st: Miami, United States (1994) 2nd: Santiago, Chile (1998) 3rd: Quebec City, Canada (2001) 4th: Mar del Plata, Argentina (2005) 5th: Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago (2009) 6th: Cartagena, Colombia (2012) 7th: Panama City, Panama (2015) 8th: Lima, Peru (2018) 9th: Los Angeles, United States (2022) 10th: Punta Cana, Dominican Republic (2026) Special Summit of the Americas on Sustainable Development: Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia (1996) Monterrey Special Summit of the Americas: Monterrey, Mexico (2004)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [5th Summit of the Americas](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/5th_Summit_of_the_Americas) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/5th_Summit_of_the_Americas?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.