By Katalina Siasau
Tonga's Prime Minister Hon. Hu'akavameiliku and three Cabinet Ministers will attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Apia, Samoa this week,
The PM will attend the meeting representing not only Tonga, but the Pacific Islands in his capacity as Chair of the Pacific Islands Forum.
Side events and pre-CHOGM meetings will be held all week, ahead of the official opening on Friday 25 October at the Tuamainato Conference Centre.
Tonga's Minister for Trade and Economic Development, Hon. Dr. Viliami Latu, and Minister for MEIDECC, Hon. Fekitamoeloa 'Utoikamanu, will attend meetings and discussions on economic development and the private sector, as well as climate change related discussions.
The Minister for Internal Affairs, Hon. Lord Vaea, will lead a delegation from his Ministry to attend Youth and Sport discussions and meetings.
The Commonwealth Leaders meeting will shape Commonwealth policies and priorities on shared goals like development, democracy and peace, trade and economy, climate change and environment.
CHOGM
The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) brings together delegations from 56 nations from Africa, the Caribbean and Americas, Europe, Asia, and the Pacific.
It is hosted by different member countries on a rotating basis every two years.
Since 1971, a total of 25 meetings have been held, with the most recent being in the Rwanda in 2022.
Samoa is the first Pacific country to host the CHOGM. Over 4000 delegates from 56 countries across Africa, the Caribbean and Americas, Europe, Asia, and the Pacific will will attend the events from 21-26 October. The overall theme of this year’s meeting is: ‘One Resilient Common Future: Transforming Our Common Wealth’.
Samoan villages have each adopted a country and decorated the roads with flags.
United Kingdom
King Charles II and Queen Camilla will make a state visit to Samoa and attend the CHOGM Opening Ceremony.
The royal.uk website reported that the King accompanied by the Queen will host a Dinner for Commonwealth Heads of Government. The King will also host a Reception for New Heads of Government and will attend the CHOGM Business Forum to hear about progress on sustainable urbanisation and investment in solutions to tackle climate change. The king will attend a side event to the Women’s Forum on the subject of ‘Advocating for Women and Girls in the Commonwealth’, with a focus on eliminating violence against women and improving health.
“The King’s programme will, in addition, reflect the theme of sustainability and biodiversity, in support of one of the key themes of CHOGM – ‘A Resilient Environment’, and the meeting’s focus on oceans.”
He will visit a mangrove forest and a National Park, witnessing the work which is carried out by local communities to restore and protect vital ecosystems, and will also plant a tree in Samoa’s Botanical Garden, marking the opening of a new area within the site, which will be called ‘The King’s Garden’.
