LONDON, England – Fresh from the Eighth Summit of the Americas held in Lima, Peru, Prime Minister, Dr. the Hon. Hubert A. Minnis is leading a Bahamian delegation to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting from April 16-20, 2018.
The Prime Minister and delegation were met at London Gatwick Airport, Monday, by Bahamas High Commissioner to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, His Excellency Ellison Greenslade; Wilfred Adderley, Second Secretary/Vice Consul; along with representatives from Buckingham Palace and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office – UK CHOGM Team.
The Commonwealth is a diverse community of 53 nations that work together to promote prosperity, democracy and peace. The 2018 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) will have the theme, ‘Towards a common future’. The focus will be on ensuring that the Commonwealth is “responsive to global challenges and delivers a more prosperous, secure, sustainable and fair future for all its citizens, particularly its young people.”
The meeting will also focus on the need for urgent action to reduce vulnerability and increase resilience, in light of the fact that the impacts of climate change could push an additional 100 million people across the world into poverty by 2030 and because, in the Commonwealth, 39 of its 53 members are small or other vulnerable states.
The meeting will begin with the Commonwealth Business Forum, People’s Forum, Women’s Forum, and Youth Forum. Those are some of the sessions Bahamian delegates will attend and participate in.
The Hon. Darren Henfield, Minister of Foreign Affairs will attend the Pre-CHOGM Meeting of Commonwealth Foreign Ministers. The Prime Minister, Minister Henfield and High Commissioner Greenslade will attend the Formal Opening of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting at Buckingham Palace. The Prime Minister will attend the Executive Sessions at Lancaster House.
The Prime Minister and delegation will visit Bahamas House to meet with staff of The Bahamas High Commission and The Bahamas Tourist Office.
The delegation to CHOGM and related Meetings are the Prime Minister, the Hon. Darren Henfield, Minister of Foreign Affairs; the Hon. Romauld Ferreira, Minister of the Environment and Housing; Senator the Hon. Kwasi Thompson, Minister of State for Grand Bahama; Joshua Sears, Senior Policy Advisor to the Prime Minister; Sharon Brennen-Haylock, Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Candia Ferguson, Director of Investments, Bahamas Investment Authority; and Viana Gardiner, Chief Operating Officer, Office of the Prime Minister/Deliverables Unit. The delegation also includes: His Excellency Ellison Greenslade, Bahamas High Commissioner to the UK; Wilfred Adderley II, Second Secretary/Vice Consul, Bahamas High Commission in London; and other officials from The Bahamas and London.
The Prime Minister and delegation returns home Sunday, April 22.
