Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar arrived in Australia yesterday ahead of the 22nd sitting of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), which takes place from October 28 to 30 in Perth. The Prime Minister, who was accompanied by Foreign Minister Surujrattan Rambachan, left Trinidad last Wednesday. Commonwealth leaders will discuss, among others, issues related to food security, sustainable development and natural resource management—challenges that lie at the heart of national and global resilience for many member states.
The theme of this conference is Building National Resilience, Building Global Resilience.
On arrival at the Perth International Airport yesterday, the Prime Minister was greeted by Terry Crane, Head of the CHOGM Taskforce. Following her arrival, the Prime Minister met with Kamalesh Sharma, Commonwealth Secretary General who briefed her on matters of Commonwealth Business. The Prime Minister begins a packed schedule of engagements from this morning when she attends and delivers the feature address at the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Business Forum (CBC).
The Forum provides an opportunity for delegates to learn about new business and investment opportunities, conduct business with other international partners and network with key government and business leaders. Following the opening of the CBC, the Prime Minister is scheduled to hold a bilateral meeting with the Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard during which the leaders are expected to discuss initiatives targeted to deepening the good relations which already exist between T&T and Australia. Every two years Commonwealth leaders meet at CHOGM to discuss global and Commonwealth issues and to agree on collective policies and initiatives. CHOGMs are organised by the host Nation in collaboration with the Commonwealth Secretariat.
The last meeting was held in November 2009 in Port-of-Spain.