Foreign Affairs Minister E.P. Chet Greene says Antigua and Barbuda is ready to host the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting from November 1–4, with more than 11,000 accredited participants awaiting final security clearance.
Writing in the October 18 edition of St. Paul’s Weekly, Greene described the summit as the largest international gathering ever convened in the country and urged residents and businesses to prepare for their role in welcoming delegates.
Greene, who chairs the national CHOGM task force, said preparations had involved public servants, security personnel, health workers, protocol teams and volunteers, alongside regional and international partners.
“The work has been relentless, the deadlines unforgiving and the stakes immense. Notwithstanding, we are ready,” he wrote.
The meeting will be held under the theme “Accelerating Partnerships and Investment for a Prosperous Commonwealth.” Greene said the gathering must turn cooperation among the Commonwealth’s 56 nations into investment, climate adaptation projects and employment opportunities for young people.
Leaders are expected to discuss climate finance, the energy transition, digital technology and international development. Reparatory justice for the transatlantic trade in enslaved Africans will also feature in the discussions.
Greene argued that the Commonwealth could not meaningfully address prosperity without confronting structural inequalities rooted in exploitation. He said the talks should approach that history honestly and seriously.
He also called for an outcome document that provides a practical framework for partnerships, connects investment with inclusion and treats climate vulnerability as an economic reality.
According to Greene, King Charles III and Queen Camilla will attend. He expressed hope that relations between the monarchy and the Caribbean would develop in ways that better reflect the needs of the region’s people.
Beyond the formal meetings, the programme will showcase Antigua and Barbuda’s culture and attractions.
Greene highlighted the National Performing Arts Centre, developed from the former Deluxe Cinema, as a venue seating nearly 900 people that would serve the creative industries long after visiting delegations leave.
Other activities outlined include the Independence Ceremonial Parade at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, a cricket match involving Caribbean and African leaders, and a concert headlined by Jamaican singer Tarrus Riley.
Greene said the cricket match would feature Sir Vivian Richards and Prime Minister Gaston Browne as an opening batting pair.
Elements of the programme will also take place in Barbuda, highlighting the twin-island nation’s identity and vulnerability to climate shocks. The closing ceremony is scheduled for Nelson’s Dockyard, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
With registration closing this week, Greene urged hotels, guesthouses, Airbnb hosts, taxi drivers, restaurateurs, souvenir vendors and other businesses to be ready.
“This is not a government event. It is a national moment,” he wrote.
He encouraged residents to regard themselves as ambassadors, saying clean streets, honest transactions and warm welcomes would help demonstrate the country’s ability to host a major international gathering.
This article was originally published by Antigua News Room. Read the original article here: Greene says Antigua and Barbuda ready to host CHOGM.