Address by H.E. Kamalesh Sharma, Commonwealth Secretary-General, at the official launch of CHOGM 2009

Prime Minister, Hon’ble Speaker of the House and President of the Senate, Ministers, Members of the House and Senate, Excellencies, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

It is an honour and pleasure to be with you today, as a partner in preparing for the 2009 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), in holding that summit, and in following up on its decisions.

This is an important day in the life of this beautiful nation. It is important for Trinidad & Tobago, and important for the Commonwealth.

Today, you formally launch the 2009 CHOGM. Several months of hard work are already behind you; 16 months of very hard work lie ahead. We have already amply seen your seriousness of purpose. We visited a number of sites yesterday and saw for myself the progress that is being made and your commitment towards hosting a successful CHOGM.

This is my fourth visit to Trinidad & Tobago. On all my previous visits I have been captivated by some facet of what this country has to offer. Prime Minister, I am delighted that on this occasion we are forging a connection of common purpose – which will not only ensure further visits by me, but also that we will be able to assist you in serving this unique and precious organization, the Commonwealth.

The series of CHOGMs have progressively endorsed principles of governance, including a mechanism of peer scrutiny and action, which makes the Commonwealth unique among international organizations. The CHOGM in Trinidad & Tobago will once again burnish these credentials. The states of the Caribbean have a proud record of adherence to democracy and the rule of law.

The CHOGM in Trinidad & Tobago will also once again give strong attestation to another brand strength of the Commonwealth, namely that it is an organization par excellence which serves the aspirations of small states – another dimension of its uniqueness.

Beyond these traditional strengths, the Commonwealth is assuming a larger global role, as it is again uniquely endowed to do this by virtue of its cross-cutting, variegated and representative membership. A consideration of progress registered in two of its major initiatives will become due at the Port of Spain CHOGM.

The first is the Marlborough House Statement adopted by eleven Commonwealth leaders earlier this month on the reform of international institutions, covering areas of reform underway in the United Nations, those due in the international financial institutions and in the pressing area of environmental governance. The group of leaders made the clear recommendation that only a comprehensive treatment of the last two areas, through a universally representative conference, can do justice to them.

The second is the progress in the theme of Respect and Understanding, advanced in the report Civil Paths to Peace adopted in the CHOGM at Kampala. Working towards embracing and celebrating diversity in our rapidly compacting world is again a natural endowment of the Commonwealth, which is a mirror of the larger global diversity and can uniquely bring perspectives to the global discourse on this theme imbued with wisdom and human sympathy.

There are, of course, those issues in which the host and neighbouring governments have a special interest – capacity building in export, human resource and skills development, upscaling of the services sector, the environment and protection against natural devastation, engagement by diasporas in nation-building at home, cushioning against a variety of price shocks such as in energy and food, and others.

The Commonwealth must be in the vanguard of inclusive and equitable globalization. I had said in my very first statement at the Executive Session of Heads of Government at Kampala that all human communities, irrespective of size and endowment, have an equal right to national salvation and to a place in the sun. I hope to work in this spirit with you, Prime Minister.

Ladies and Gentlemen, the Commonwealth is an association that brings together:

• governments and peoples
• nations individually and collectively
• values and actions

CHOGM 2009 will be about each of those three pairings – and more.

Governments and peoples

Governments are about policy, and the practical response to policy; the power, reach and authority of 53 Heads of Government; about their combined wisdom: the Declaration, the Communique, and with them several new mandates. CHOGM is the place in which our agenda is set, and from which all our activities flow. It is where the heart of the Commonwealth beats.

Peoples are about human interaction at every level – individuals, civil society, business, young people – four events rolled into one (CHOGM, the Youth Forum, the ‘People’s’ Forum, the Business Forum). Hundreds of thousands worldwide will watch on TV and read about all these events. Numberless will be engaged or involved from the youth, business and civil society, and as visitors and observers.

CHOGM is a celebration of humanity, diversity, aspirations – how appropriate that the steelpan is at the heart of the logo: it’s vibrant and it’s fun – and it’s emblematic of innovation as reportedly the only musical instrument invented in modern times!

Nations individually and collectively

CHOGM will catapult Trinidad & Tobago as a nation and the Caribbean as a region into the prominence they deserve. This country is a dynamo for the Caribbean, a place of energy -- both literal and metaphorical. CHOGM is a spectacular national event. It leaves behind a legacy of skills and infrastructure, and belief.

The Commonwealth is a family of nations – large and small, rich and poor, island and landlocked– that constantly finds common ground. It is an expression of faith in people-centred approaches and of belief in our ability to shape our collective destiny.

Values and actions

CHOGM is a focus for articulating and rearticulating our deepest values and principles. Each CHOGM is remembered for a major policy initiative – as I have no doubt will be the one in Port of Spain.

CHOGM is where this organization of values recommits itself to the twin pillars of enlightened and democratic governance as well as to economic and social advancement.

CHOGM means people from 53 countries engaged with you in different ways. It means Trinidadians and Tobagonians being placed at the heart of the Commonwealth.

The Commonwealth has to mean something to the ordinary people who belong to it, and to give them something to look forward to.

I must thank you, Prime Minister, for offering to host the 2009 CHOGM and, in so doing, underscoring your country’s deep commitment to the Commonwealth. I congratulate you for your initiative and wish you well in the task that lies ahead. We – your partners in the Commonwealth Secretariat – look forward to working with you and your team to deliver a memorable CHOGM.

ENDS