The ’People’s Space’ has been developed at a cost of approximately $4 million, Culture Minister Marlene McDonald said yesterday, and will be officially opened to the public at 5 p.m. today at the Queen’s Park Savannah in Port of Spain.

McDonald, who was speaking yesterday at a media conference at the Ministry’s Community Education Information Training and Resource Centre in St Ann’s, said Government also covered the cost of registration for over 400 people, representing various local NGOs who will be participating in the People’s Space 2009, at an additional cost of $48,000.

According to the ministry, the People’s Space will be the premier spot for nationals and visitors to share in Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) activity through participating in discourse, literacy, performing, visual and culinary arts. It comprises at least eight pavilions, which are designed to showcase the ’rich culture’ of this country to the thousands who are expected to visit during the hosting of CHOGM next week, McDonald said.

McDonald said Government had long in advance made a decision to cover the cost of the People’s Space and registration for participating groups because it felt doing so would demonstrate ’our efforts to foster a good relationship with civil society’.

McDonald said in addition to promoting this country’s culture, the People’s Space will also impact positively on the tourism industry as visitors sharing in the experience may actually be encouraged to return to this country. She said she believed it would be a success.