Monday, November 23 2009

FOR yet a second time this year, Trinidad and Tobago will be projected onto the world stage as this country hosts delegates from at least 50 countries for the 2009 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Port-of-Spain. This year marks the 60th year of the Commonwealth of Nations.

Last April Trinidad and Tobago very successfully hosted the Fifth Summit of the Americas whose cordial atmosphere played a key role in paving the way for the readmission of Cuba into the hemisphere, pending human rights initiatives in that country.

The Commonwealth is not a rigid political union, but a family of nations across the globe, deemed equal in status, made up mainly of former members of the Empire on which the sun never set.

Member countries share the English language, and have similarities in their organs of governance, such as the legal system, parliamentary system, and civil service. Further, the Commonwealth also champions values of good governance, democracy, human rights, individual liberties and the rule of law. In this regard, the Commonwealth has in the past and indeed at present exercised the option of suspending member States who fail to live up to these ideals, with many being readmitted upon eventual compliance.

Suspensions have occurred to try to counter apartheid, military coups and electoral fraud. So we consider the Commonwealth to be a force for good, setting common standards for members across the globe to live up to.

This year’s meeting will be especially important as it is the last major international conference being held before the very important United Nations Climate Change Talks next month in Copenhagen, Denmark.

It is widely thought that the planet now stands at its ecological tipping point beyond which it will simply be too late to remedy the harm by global warming produced by excessive carbon-dioxide emissions. So Trinidad and Tobago, once again, is set to play a key role in international affairs, this time beyond the politics of the hemisphere, to the well-being of the globe itself.

It will be a busy week for Trinidad and Tobago, starting with a series of pre-CHOGM events of the Commonwealth Business Forum formally opening tomorrow, and meetings of foreign ministers known as the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) on Wednesday and Thursday.

On Friday morning, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II as Head of the Commonwealth, will address the formal launch of CHOGM at the National Academy of Performing Arts. This will be the first of three days of talks between Heads of Government, between which will be interspersed receptions, formal dinners and cultural events. There is also a spouses programme.

Running parallel to CHOGM, this week will also see a State visit by Her Majesty. She is due to be entertained by local cultural performers and her husband His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh will visit several ecological sites in Tobago.

So in addition to the nuts and bolts of Commonwealth business, we certainly see both the CHOGM and the State visit as shining the world spotlight onto what Trinidad and Tobago has to offer to visitors in terms of culture, eco-tourism and cuisine, among other attractions.

While there is a debate over the cost of CHOGM and whether or not it is well spent, the decision has been made to host the event, and we trust and hope that it will indeed raise the stature of Trinidad and Tobago and the Commonwealth, even as nations prepare to meet next month in Copenhagen.