Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister visits Commonwealth Secretariat

The Chair-in-Office of the Commonwealth, Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister, Kamla Persad-Bissessar, was briefed on the Commonwealth Secretariat’s work, at the organisation’s London, UK, headquarters on Tuesday, 12 October.

Secretariat staff updated the Chair on several aspects of the Secretariat’s development work in governance, human rights, legal and constitutional, political and youth affairs as mandated by Commonwealth Heads of Government at their meeting last year in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. The Chair was also briefed on administrative, financial and personnel-related issues.

During the meeting, the Chair commented: “There is tremendous value in holding together as a Commonwealth of nations. There is so much to share.

“We stand by to work with you. I pay tribute to your hard working staff and I urge you to continue with the work you have been doing.”

The Secretariat’s team highlighted its work on tackling the debt challenges of small and vulnerable countries, with a view to working with the Multilateral Development Banks on options for debt relief. They also spoke of plans to host a meeting in 2011 on practical ways for countries to access funding to adapt to and mitigate the effects of climate change.

The Secretariat’s Human Rights Unit highlighted its work behind the scenes with governments and civil society to defend human rights and cause change, before the Deputy Secretary-General, Ransford Smith, outlined plans for non-communicable diseases to be the focus of the Commonwealth Health Ministers Meeting in 2011.

The Chair commended the Commonwealth’s youth programmes to actively engage young people in the association, while adding her own recommendations.

Her comments also centred on the Commonwealth’s work to assist member countries to address both drugs and small arms trafficking, which will both be addressed at the Commonwealth Senior Law Officers Meeting from 18 to 20 October.

While in London the Chair will also attend a two-day Commonwealth Economic Partnerships Forum, organised by the Commonwealth Business Council, to identify areas of action to exploit the benefits of economic co-operation in relation to trade and investment within the Commonwealth.

The Chair was accompanied by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Surujrattan Rambachan, and the Minister of Trade and Industry, Stephen Cadiz.

Key Links:

• Country Profile: Trinidad and Tobago
• Commonwealth uniquely placed to promote trade, says British Prime Minister

Related News:

• Government of Trinidad and Tobago