The Commonwealth
  1. Home
  2. What's New
    1. Latest News - RSS
  3. Who We Are
  4. What we do
    1. Democracy and Consensus Building
    2. Economic Development
    3. Education
    4. Environmentally Sustainable Development
    5. Gender
    6. Good offices for peace
    7. Health
    8. Human Development
    9. Human Rights
    10. Rule of law
    11. Public Sector Development
    12. Sport
    13. Youth
  5. How we do it
    1. CHOGM
    2. Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group
    3. Technical Cooperation and Strategic Response Group
    4. Policy Development
    5. Advisory Services
    6. Development Network
    7. Case Studies
    8. Funding
    9. Our Projects
  6. News
    1. News Archive
    2. Press Releases
    3. Multimedia
    4. Newsletter
    5. Connect with us
    6. Events
    7. FAQs
    8. Media Contacts
  7. Media Room
    1. Press Releases
    2. Multimedia
    3. Newsletter
    4. Events
    5. FAQs
    6. Media Contacts
  8. Resources
    1. Documents
    2. Library & Archives
  9. Publications
  10. Employment
  11. FAQs
    1. Acronyms
  12. Contact Us

Kamalesh Sharma's blog at CHOGM 2011

Wednesday, 26 October 2011

A well attended press conference at 7.15 in the morning is an indication of the importance the media attach to our deliberations, and the eagerness with which they await the CHOGM outcomes. That’s how my Wednesday started; addressing early-bird media representatives jointly with Australian Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd in a briefing that was broadcast live on Sky and ABC.

Today it’s the pre-CHOGM Foreign Ministers Meeting – and there is now a sense that the stage is set and the curtain is about to rise for the central cast of Heads of Government. Perth has embraced us with enthusiasm and warmth, and the welcome from the people of Western Australia is matched by their sense of enterprise. This energy is reflected in the mood of expectation among CHOGM delegates and participants in the Commonwealth forums for Youth, People, and Business.

I am confident that this will be a great week for the Commonwealth, as Australia achieves the remarkable record of having hosted three CHOGMs: Melbourne 1981, Coolum 2002 and now Perth 2011. Watch this space!

Tuesday, 25 October 2011

This morning the Commonwealth Business Forum opening ceremony took place at the Burswood Entertainment Complex here in Perth. The attendance seems exceptional, engendered in part, I’m sure, by Perth as the centre of Australia’s mining and extractive industries.

Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar of Trinidad and Tobago, Commonwealth Chair-in-Office; and Prime Minister Julia Gillard of Australia, our CHOGM host; both spoke of the Commonwealth factor in facilitating and promoting trade between our member countries. The occasion had a buzz and there was an almost tangible sense in the auditorium of the appetite for making deals and meeting with potential business partners.

Commonwealth countries score highly on the indices that measure ‘business-friendliness’. It is facts such as these that are persuasive in assessing the impact of the Commonwealth – they are not abstract ideas, they are factors that make an impact on the economic well-being of our countries and communities, and are helping us to play a part in changing for the better the lives of millions of our citizens – not least, our youth and our women.

The opening ceremony of the Commonwealth People’s Forum this afternoon was truly uplifting. The hall was packed with representatives of civil society organisations from across the Commonwealth. They were welcomed by elders representing the Noongar people, whose ancestors have lived in this land for millennia, and by young performers from WAAPA, the Western Australian Academy of the Performing Arts. The Premier of Western Australia, Hon. Colin Barnett, described the medley they performed as incorporating the very best of Australia’s songs – and the worst! It was hugely enjoyable, and following them on stage I felt that, if I was to hold the attention of the audience, I really needed to sing my speech.

Civil society plays a central role in connecting the people of the Commonwealth – through the convening power of voluntary organisations and professional associations. In a week when reform, renewal and resilience are at the top of our agenda at CHOGM, ‘connecting’ and ‘the people’ are words that we need to keep at the forefront of our minds.

Monday, 24 October 2011

Monday morning of CHOGM week 2011 started with the vibrant opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Youth Forum in Fremantle. The drive from Perth to Fremantle, the venue for the youth event which runs until Thursday, reinforced my sense of the optimism and opportunity of these Western Australian cities where the beautiful Swan River flows into the ocean.

Starting with a moving welcome from the Noongar Elders, representing the traditional custodians of this land, who spoke of reconciliation and healing as they called for a blessing on the gathering of Commonwealth young people, the assembled delegates were then addressed by the Prime Minister of Australia, Hon. Julia Gillard.

This high-level engagement between Heads of Government and Commonwealth Youth Forum delegates will continue later in the week, and highlights the importance the Commonwealth attaches to youth inclusion in all decisions that have an impact on the lives and livelihoods of young people. This means that we seek to promote the mainstreaming of youth involvement particularly in banking and finance, and in order to boost the impact of our Commonwealth initiatives, to boost youth employment and youth enterprise.

I make a point, when visiting Commonwealth countries, of meeting the ministers for youth and for women and representatives of the financial sector. The question I ask is, if we trust our future to our young people – and we must – why are we reluctant to trust them with our money?

Back in Perth, Prime Minister Gillard and I paid a visit to Kings Park, the venue for the 2011 CHOGM Retreat. This very special element of the programme gives time for in-depth interaction between Heads of Government in a relaxed atmosphere - and the stunning setting will ensure it is a truly memorable engagement. In the beautiful grounds Prime Minister Gillard and I planted a red gum tree to symbolise the enduring legacy we feel sure this Perth CHOGM will bequeath – to people of all ages in every country of the Commonwealth.

The sunshine, the stunning view of Perth, and the happy greetings from young children were an uplifting expression of the infectious friendliness and enthusiasm one senses everywhere in Perth in this Commonwealth festival of 2011.

Posted by Kamalesh Sharma at Oct 28 2011 9:35AM

Add your comment