CHOGM ends with calls for developed countries to assist smaller states

Commonwealth Heads at this year's CHOGM

by Norman 'Gus' Thomas 
Caribbean Net News Senior Correspondent on assignment 
E-mail: rc@caribbeannetnews.com 

Monday,  November 28, 2005

VALLETTA, Malta:  Fifty two countries, 38 represented by their Heads of State or Prime Ministers, attended the just-concluded Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) held in Malta. 

The Heads expressed their commitment to world peace and security, democracy, good governance, human rights, gender equality, rule of law, the independence of the judiciary, freedom of expression, and a political culture that promotes transparency, accountability and economic development. 

In fact, Dr. Denzil Douglas, Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis issued a call to developing countries to work towards promoting closer partnerships for development.

During talks at one on the Executive Sessions, the St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister, Dr. Denzil Douglas pointed out that developed countries ought to accept the fact that they have a duty to assist small states such as those in the Caribbean as they are severely affected by new trade rules and mentioned his country's experience as a result of the closure of the St. Kitts and Nevis sugar industry which was operated for in excess of 350 years, producing sugar for Europe and other countries.

According to Dr. Douglas, "the closure means that over 2000 persons are out of work affecting over 6000 dependents. These are rural people and woman with no less than five dependents in many cases. 

Because we are ranked as a middle income country we are not eligible for concessions or grants," he stressed, adding that, "I hope that this meeting will realize that the situation for St. Kitts and Nevis and other small states is critical and there is the need for developed nations to lend assistance." 

Dr. Douglas said that the current situation calls for Millennium Goal 8 to be implemented.

Also speaking out on behalf of the smaller and poorer countries was Guyana's President, Bharrat Jagdeo who called the recent position taken by the European Union (EU) on the latest sugar issue for African, Pacific and Caribbean states as "unconscionable," as the decision has left Caribbean sugar producers "outraged."

During the three-day meeting, "Heads of Government noted that the Commonwealth (Latimer House) Principles on the Accountability of and Relationship between the Three Branches of Government 2003, which recognise the importance of a balance of power between the Executive, Legislature and Judiciary, constitute an integral part of the Commonwealth's fundamental political values as set out in the Harare Commonwealth Declaration," a statement indicated. 

The Heads also welcomed the progress made by Pakistan in restoring democracy and rebuilding democratic institutions as well as Pakistan's participation in the Commonwealth since its reinstatement last year. 

However, they noted that the holding by the same person of the offices of Head of State and Chief of Army Staff is incompatible with the basic principles of democracy and the spirit of the Harare Commonwealth principles. They reiterated that until the two offices are separated, the process of democratisation in Pakistan will not be irreversible.

The developments in the continuing efforts of Belize to bring closure to Guatemala's territorial claim, including the Agreement on a Framework for Negotiations and Confidence Building Measures between Belize and Guatemala signed by the two Parties and the Secretary General of the Organisation of American States (OAS) last month were also looked at during the Malta meeting. 

Heads of Government noted that this Agreement provided for a mechanism to allow recourse to an international judicial body for final resolution should the parties fail to reach agreement in negotiations, and expressed the confidence that this framework could bring this long-lasting claim to an early end. 

Heads of Government reiterated their firm support for the territorial integrity, security and sovereignty of Belize. The Secretary-General was mandated at the meeting to convene the Ministerial Committee on Belize, whenever necessary. 

In addition the Heads observed that the Commonwealth Ministerial Group on Guyana which was established in 1999 to monitor developments in respect of the existing controversy between Guyana and Venezuela met recently in September and expressed satisfaction at the cordiality which had characterised relations between Guyana and Venezuela in recent years and recognised the instrumental role of dialogue at the highest levels in facilitating the commitment to a peaceful settlement of the controversy under the aegis of the UN Good Offices Process and to enhanced co-operation at the bilateral, regional and multilateral levels. 

They also reaffirmed their unequivocal support for the maintenance of Guyana's territorial integrity and sovereignty including its unrestricted right to the development of the entirety of its territory for the benefit of its people. Meanwhile, Commonwealth Heads accepted an offer by Trinidad and Tobago to host the 2009 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).

The 2007 meeting will be held in Kampala, Uganda.

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