Jamaica Prime Minister in talks with Secretary-General

Jamaica Prime Minister Bruce Golding held talks on Wednesday with Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma centred on common Commonwealth concerns such as the reform of international institutions and the escalating global food crisis.

During the talks at the Commonwealth Secretariat’s Marlborough House headquarters in London, Mr Sharma briefed the Prime Minister about the June 9 and 10 summit of leaders he has convened to discuss the reform of international institutions such as the World Bank, International Monetary Fund and the World Trade Organization.

Mr Golding and the Secretary-General shared a deep concern about the global food crisis, as well as the view that multilateral organizations should respond to the problem with a sense of real urgency. The Secretary-General said that he would be attending a high level UN Food and Agriculture Organisation meeting in Rome next month on the subject. Both noted in particular the adverse effects of the crisis on Commonwealth small states which already suffer from inherent vulnerabilities.

Mr Sharma briefed the Prime Minister about Pakistan, whose suspension from the Councils of the Commonwealth was lifted by CMAG this month.

He also gave the Prime Minister an update on the political situation in Fiji islands, which was suspended from the Councils of the Commonwealth in December 2006. The Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG), that monitors persistent or serious violations of the Harare Principles, this month urged Fiji to fulfil its commitment to hold elections by the first quarter of 2009.

The Secretary-General thanked Jamaica for its support of the Commonwealth’s programmes, particularly the Commonwealth Fund for Technical Cooperation (CFTC).

Key Links:

• Video - Excerpts from an interview with Jamaican Prime Minister Bruce Golding
• Accreditation for meeting on reform of global institutions on 10 June 2008
• Country Profile: Jamaica
• Commonwealth Secretary-General