As the smallest nation to host the second largest grouping of nations, Antigua and Barbuda has embraced the responsibility of hosting the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) with ‘confidence, professionalism and resolve’.
The 56-member, Commonwealth of Nation will convene its biennial meeting in Antigua and Barbuda from November 1 to 4, 2026.
Last Friday, a two-week training sessions for many of the individuals who will be engaged in the planning and execution of the various events associated with CHOGM concluded at the headquarters of the Antigua and Barbuda Defence Force, Camp Blizzard.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Chairman of the CHOMG Task Force, Ambassador Dr. Clarence Pilgrim, said he is satisfied that the training exercise has been both successful and consequential.
“It has produced clear, actionable deliverables that will directly inform and strengthen the forward planning of the COGM project cycle,” he stated.
CHOGM Coordinator, Celia Morgan, commended the participants for their active involvement in the training that led to what she described as ‘a successful outcome’, but she cautioned that the work has just started. “The work has just started; as you would have realized, over the next few weeks, we will be calling on each of you individually to get updates, to bring everybody together again as well, because this is not the end of it; it is just the beginning,” she remarked.
For her part, Director General for Foreign Affairs, Ann Marie Layne, offered appreciation to the Canadian team that conducted the training, noting that exercises such as the two-week training are not possible without the input from ‘key partners’ such as the Canadian government in this case. She noted that other governments such as the UK and Australia are assisting in other areas.
She also provided an overview of how the training had helped her personally. “When I started two weeks ago, I wondered where we were going, especially with the use of military jargon. However, we came to a place where we recognized that there was a purpose to what we were exposed to over the period of time. It is worthy to note that we, as a group, have made so much progress over the past two weeks that it is now quite obvious to us all,” she indicated.
Lt Col. of the Canadian Army, Stephen Haly, one of the trainers, said he was pleased to see the progress being made ‘day in and day out’ by the participants.
“I know that we pushed you really, really hard recognizing the time of the year. So on behalf of Canada, thank you for allowing us to be here to present the operational planning process to you. Hopefully, it will enable you in all things you want to do to be ready and to be more prepared for CHOGM,” he remarked.
Many of the participants expressed their gratitude to the team from the Canadian Armed Forces for guiding them through the critical process of strategic planning as they prepare for the task ahead in planning and executing this major event.
