02 November 2026
Commonwealth diversity was
celebrated today in Antigua and Barbuda as leaders, young
people, business executives and civil society
representatives from the 56 member countries came together
to turn shared purpose into shared prosperity.
More
than 500 delegates from every continent were welcomed to the
sounds of Scottish pipes and Caribbean steelpans at the
joint opening ceremony for the Business, People’s,
Women’s and Youth Forums. The ceremony also marked the
start of four side events on eye health, ocean finance,
democracy and sport for development ahead of the 2026
Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting
(CHOGM).
Over the coming days, delegates will draw
on their experience and expertise to share ideas on a range
of issues, including business growth, youth employment,
skills development and gender
equality.
Commonwealth Secretary-General Hon
Shirley Botchwey and Prime Minister of
Antigua and Barbuda Hon Gaston Browne welcomed
delegates, highlighting the role of the Forums in bringing
the perspectives and ambitions of Commonwealth people into
CHOGM discussions.
Official CHOGM deliberations begin
tomorrow with a renewed focus on creating bold trade and
investment opportunities for member countries.
‘We
cannot accept’
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Secretary-General Botchwey
highlighted the importance of ensuring young people and
women are heard in Commonwealth decision-making.
She
said: “Sixty per cent of Commonwealth citizens are under
the age of 30. Half are women and girls. Together, these
forums stand for about 80 per cent of our 2.7 billion
people, yet their perspectives are still too often excluded
from decision-making. That is why these forums
matter.”
She said the Commonwealth “cannot rest”
while one in three women experiences gender-based violence,
or “accept” that closing the economic gap between women
and men could take more than a century and a half at the
current pace.
“We need to do things differently if
we are to change the world,” the Secretary-General added.
“Business as usual will not transform the lives of the
majority of our youth and women. We need bold, innovative,
ambitious action-oriented responses.”
She urged
delegates to speak out boldly and hold leaders to account,
stressing that their recommendations would help shape the
decisions of Heads of Government.
In his remarks,
Prime Minister Browne challenged the delegates to turn
ambition into practical action, adding:
“Do not
leave these forums with only a declaration. Leave with a
partnership. Leave with a commitment. Leave with a practical
initiative capable of making a difference in the lives of
Commonwealth citizens.
“Let the conversations that
begin here in Antigua and Barbuda lead to investments made,
opportunities created and communities strengthened long
after CHOGM 2026 has concluded.”
World under
‘considerable pressure’
In his keynote address,
Australian Prime Minister Hon Anthony
Albanese called for Commonwealth countries to work
together to strengthen democracy, build economic and climate
resilience, protect free and fair trade, and shape emerging
technologies for the benefit of people, as the world faces
“considerable pressure”.
He added: “We believe
in seizing and shaping this world moment, and we believe
that the Commonwealth, our 56 nations working together, has
a critical role in shaping a successful future. We want to
stand with other Commonwealth nations as friends and
partners to tackle the big issues together and to build
something better together.”
Later, a leadership
conversation brought together President H.E. Paul
Kagame of Rwanda, Prime Minister Hon Andrew
Holness of Jamaica and Deputy Prime
Minister Hon Mulipola Anarosa Ale-Molio’o of Samoa
to discuss how the Commonwealth can be ready for the
future.
‘Investment for
development’
Rwandan President Paul Kagame said:
“There are investments that have to be made for countries
to develop, for young people to find jobs and get
skills.”
He challenged the perception that
investment in developing countries carries greater risks
than in the “global north”, arguing that risks exist
everywhere and can be mitigated through cooperation and
pooled resources. “I think the Commonwealth can be helpful
in this,” he said.
Prime Minister Holness argued
that the main constraint on development is not financing,
but the ability of governments and institutions to deliver
efficiently. As citizens demand faster and more responsive
services, he said governments must start thinking of
“efficiency as a resource” and become more
agile.
“The aim of the game now is delivery. How
fast can governments deliver benefits to their
electorate?” he said. He pointed to technology and
artificial intelligence as tools to improve efficiency,
while stressing the need to keep “equity and fairness
front and centre in our minds.”
Samoa’s Deputy
Prime Minister said the Commonwealth’s strength lies in
its people, relationships and collective
responsibility.
She said: “It’s not the house;
it’s not the infrastructure that’s important. It’s the
people in the house and the relationship that they have
within… I imagine the Commonwealth as a Samoan family, as
an extended family, where members take collective
responsibility for one another. Our collective strength is
our collective advantage.”
The conversation will
continue through the Forums, where delegates will develop
recommendations for leaders’
consideration.
