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| Members of the EPG in London with Commonwealth Sec. Gen. Kamlesh Sharma |
The presentation at the Diplomatic Centre was made by Senator Hugh Segal of Canada and Sir Ronald Sanders of Guyana to Dr. Rambachan, Senator Verna St Rose-Greaves, Minister for Gender, Youth and Child Development and High Commissioners. The key areas of focus for Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissesssar and the EPG include:
- Women’s and youth empowerment
- women’s political participation
- intra-Commonwealth trade
- HIV/AIDS
- a Youth Corps and the need for greater co-ordination among the Commonwealth Secretariat, Commonwealth Foundation and Commonwealth Designated Organisations
Other topics in the presentation included the role of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) and the need for the increased engagement of this body in order to preserve Commonwealth values.
The presenters also identified a need for the establishment of a Commonwealth Commissioner for the Rule of Law, Democracy and Human Rights to effectively support and implement the work of the Secretary-General and CMAG.
The EPG emphasized that with precision, profile, clearly articulated values and focus the Commonwealth will continue to be relevant and significant.
Sir Ronald indicated that the report mirrored the national motto of Trinidad and Tobago to “aspire together” and “achieve together”.
The Prime Minister was unable to attend since she has been stricken with Dengue. Minister Rambachan represented her and conveyed her support for the broad thrust of the EPG report to reform and modernise the Commonwealth.
Sir Ronald and Senator Segal stated that the EPG report contains one hundred and seven (107) recommendations, of which fourteen (14) are core recommendations.
The EPG emphasized that with precision, profile, clearly articulated values and focus the Commonwealth will continue to be relevant and significant.
Sir Ronald indicated that the report mirrored the national motto of Trinidad and Tobago to “aspire together” and “achieve together”.
The Prime Minister was unable to attend since she has been stricken with Dengue. Minister Rambachan represented her and conveyed her support for the broad thrust of the EPG report to reform and modernise the Commonwealth.
Sir Ronald and Senator Segal stated that the EPG report contains one hundred and seven (107) recommendations, of which fourteen (14) are core recommendations.
They noted that the emphasis in the report was that the Commonwealth must recognise changing dynamics of development and human rights in the contemporary world and adapt to these changes.
In terms of development, Segal noted that there can be no development without democracy and no democracy without women’s participation. He said the EPG is calling for a robust Youth Corps, particularly as sixty (60) per cent of the Commonwealth population is under thirty-five (35) representing both the present and the future.
In terms of development, Segal noted that there can be no development without democracy and no democracy without women’s participation. He said the EPG is calling for a robust Youth Corps, particularly as sixty (60) per cent of the Commonwealth population is under thirty-five (35) representing both the present and the future.
He further noted that the Commonwealth must vigorously address the issues of HIV/AIDS, because it is a problem affecting human rights and economic development.
Noting that there are 32 Small Island States within the Commonwealth, Sir Ronald said it is the view of the EPG that these States should have a voice in multilateral organizations such as the IMF and World Bank. Persad-Bissessar first raised this as an issue when she addressed last year’s United Nations General Assembly.
In response to the recommendations of the EPG, Rambachan relayed the Prime Minister’s comments that the recommendations of the EPG were “bold” and “set to change and shape the future of the Commonwealth”.
In response to the recommendations of the EPG, Rambachan relayed the Prime Minister’s comments that the recommendations of the EPG were “bold” and “set to change and shape the future of the Commonwealth”.
Rambachan noted that there is a dynamic synergy between the Prime Minister’s views on the direction of the modern Commonwealth and the recommendations of the EPG. He stressed the work of the Prime Minister as Chair-in-Office of the Commonwealth in raising the profile of the Commonwealth in international fora.
The minister cited the Prime Minister’s presentations at the last year’s United Nations General Assembly, the Hemispheric Forum hosted by the Organisation of American States (OAS) in April of this year, and the high-level meeting on Women’s Political Participation to be convened at this year’s 66th UN General Assembly as examples of the Prime Minister’s efforts.
Senator Segal praised the Prime Minister for the energetic work she’s done as Chair-in-Office to raise the profile of the Commonwealth.
The Eminent Persons Group comprises of the following Members:
The Eminent Persons Group comprises of the following Members:
- Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi (Malaysia, Chairperson)
- Dr. Emmanuel O. Akwetey (Ghana)
- Ms Patricia Francis (Jamaica)
- Dr Asma Jahangir (Pakistan)
- Mr Samuel Kavuma (Uganda) – Commonwealth Youth Caucus
- The Hon Michael Kirby (Australia)
- Dr Graca Machel (Mozambique)
- Rt Hon Sir Malcolm Rifkind (UK)
- Sir Ronald Sanders (Guyana)
- Senator Hugh Segal (Canada)
- Sir Ieremia Tabai (Kiribati)
The Commonwealth Designated Organisations include:
- Commonwealth Business Council (CBC)
- Commonwealth Local Government Forum (CLGF)
- Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA)
- Commonwealth Telecommunications Council (CTO)
- Commonwealth Association for Public Administration and Management (CAPAM)
- Commonwealth Education Trust and the Commonwealth Games Federation
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