Antigua and Barbuda’s hosting of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) next year presents an opportunity to reimagine the role and purpose of the organization made up largely of former British territories.
That’s the view expressed on Tuesday by Foreign Affairs Minister, E.P Chet Greene when he welcomed the new non-resident High Commissioner of Malta to Antigua and Barbuda, His Excellency Dr. Pierre Hili, who is making his inaugural visit to St. John’s to present his credentials to senior government officials.
Minister Greene noted that he had held discussions with his Maltese counterpart on the subject of the Commonwealth prior to Antigua and Barbuda being named as the host for next year’s CHOGM.
He indicated that both countries share a deep commitment to the Commonwealth’s ideals, and Malta — a former CHOGM host — expressed enthusiasm in supporting the Caribbean nation’s preparations. The discussion acknowledged the Commonwealth’s evolving role amid a turbulent global landscape marked by geopolitical tensions, economic challenges, and environmental threats.
Both delegations agreed that this new era presents an opportunity to reimagine the Commonwealth’s purpose — ensuring it remains a vital platform for collaboration, peace, and shared prosperity. The upcoming CHOGM is viewed not only as a high-profile event for Antigua and Barbuda but also as a chance to reinforce the collective voice of small island nations.
“The Commonwealth is at the crossroads, in my view, in terms of its geopolitical value; in a world where we are seeing more and more wars, more tension and where are seeing heights in cost-of-living and in energy costs, I think the Commonwealth, reimagined, will have a significant role to play in global affairs,” Greene suggested.
He added that at the CHOGM in St. John’s both Malta and Antigua and Barbuda will have another opportunity to sit and fashion what would be CHOGM’s response, its involvement and its role in the broader global context.
“I am sure that based on our relationship, we will have much to add to that particular exercise,” he remarked.
In his response, High Commissioner Hili noted that he once worked at his country’s permanent mission to the United Nations and where there he was always struck by the diplomatic skills of the various representatives of Antigua and Barbuda. He emphasized that Antigua and Barbuda and Malta have always found common ground in international affairs.
“It always struck me how Antigua and Barbuda and Malta were always at the forefront of promoting to the world the needs of small island developing states. It is always good to put it out there that small island states, even though some are doing quite well because of their resilience and foresight, the idea of finding new niches and be able to compete with much larger countries and economies, sometimes we end up victims of our own success,” he stated.
