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Home > Choral event celebrates Commonwealth Day - valuing respect and dignity

Choral event celebrates Commonwealth Day - valuing respect and dignity [1]

Nuku'alofa, Tonga

Monday, March 13, 2017 - 18:35.  Updated on Monday, March 13, 2017 - 19:15.

Queen Salote College Band and Choir.

On Commonwealth Day today, March 13, Queen Elizabeth II spoke of a peace-building Commonwealth and the importance of respect and "defending the dignity of every individual and community."

Extracts of the Queen's message were read by Tonga's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hon. Siaosi Sovaleni at a choral event, attended by Prince Tungi as guest of honour, to mark Commonwealth Day in Tonga.

As Head of the Commonwealth, the Queen upheld a peace building Commonwealth. “The cornerstones on which peace is founded are quite simply, respect and understanding for one another. Working together, we build peace by defending the dignity of every individual and community.”

Queen Elizabeth said by upholding justice and the rule of law and by striving for societies that are fair and offer opportunities for all, we overcome division and find reconciliation so that the benefits of progress and prosperity may be multiplied and shared.

"As members of the Commonwealth family we can find much to be thankful for in the inheritances we have received for those who came before us. Through consensus and cooperation great things have been achieved. We can find further reward and fulfillment by continuing to collaborate with others in a spirit of goodwill to build a peaceful and abundant future for all Commonwealth citizens."

The Queen said on this Commonwealth Day, a baton starting from Buckingham Palace, begins a long and extraordinary journey-visiting people living in the nations and territories of the Commonwealth family.

It will be carried by thousands of people of all ages and backgrounds. When it reaches its destination the baton will have brought together through its route and symbolism, almost 2.5 billion people who share the special connection of being Commonwealth citizens.

Queen Elizabeth II.

Tonga's choral event featured the Queen Sālote College brass band, performing various items after hearing speeches from the New Zealand High Commissioner HE Sarah Walsh and Secretary of Foreign Affairs Va’inga Tone.

The Australian High Commissioner HE Mr Andrew Ford and Acting Attorney General 'Aminiasi Kefu also attended today's Commonwealth Day event.

Queen Salote College students.
Tonga [2]
Commonwealth Day 2017 [3]
Queen Elizabeth II [4]
choral event [5]
Queen Salote College [6]
Hon Siaosi Sovaleni [7]
peace building [8]
defending dignity [9]
culture of respect [10]
Foreign Affairs [11]

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Source URL:https://matangitonga.to/2017/03/13/choral-event-celebrates-commonwealth-day-valuing-respect-and-dignity

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[1] https://matangitonga.to/2017/03/13/choral-event-celebrates-commonwealth-day-valuing-respect-and-dignity [2] https://matangitonga.to/tag/tonga?page=1 [3] https://matangitonga.to/tag/commonwealth-day-2017?page=1 [4] https://matangitonga.to/tag/queen-elizabeth-ii?page=1 [5] https://matangitonga.to/tag/choral-event?page=1 [6] https://matangitonga.to/tag/queen-salote-college?page=1 [7] https://matangitonga.to/tag/hon-siaosi-sovaleni?page=1 [8] https://matangitonga.to/tag/peace-building?page=1 [9] https://matangitonga.to/tag/defending-dignity?page=1 [10] https://matangitonga.to/tag/culture-respect?page=1 [11] https://matangitonga.to/topic/foreign-affairs?page=1