When leaders gather for the biennial Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Malta later this month, they will select a new Secretary-General for the 53-member association. The announcement is expected on Friday 27 November, during the first day of the summit. The sixth Commonwealth Secretary-General will take office on 1 April 2016.
Currently, there are three candidates:
Baroness Patricia Scotland
Baroness Patricia Scotland was born in Dominica in 1955, then moved with her family to Britain. She obtained her LLB in 1976, was called to the Bar in 1977 and was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 1991. She received a life peerage and was created Baroness Scotland of Asthal in 1997. Baroness Scotland has held the position of Attorney General (2007 to 2010), Minister of State (Home Office) (Crime Reduction) (2007 to 2007), Minister of State (Home Office) (Criminal Justice and Offender Management) (2003 to 2007), and Parliamentary Secretary (Lord Chancellor’s Department) (2001 to 2003) in government.
Sir Ronald Sanders
Sir Ronald Sanders was born in Guyana in 1948. He is currently Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the United States and the Organisation of American States. His diplomatic career spanned two previous periods between 1982 to 1987 and 1996 to 2004. He was twice High Commissioner to the United Kingdom for Antigua and Barbuda and Ambassador to the World Trade Organisation. Sir Ronald was a member of the 2010 Eminent Persons Group on Commonwealth reform and was formerly Ambassador to the World Trade Organization. An international business consultant and writer, Sir Ronald holds a MA in International Relations. He was knighted by the Queen in 2002.
Mmasekgoa Masire-Mwamba
Mmasekgoa Masire-Mwamba was born in Botswana in 1960. She served two terms as Deputy Secretary-General of the Commonwealth Secretariat from 2008-2014 where she was responsible for senior oversight of the political, human rights, legal and youth portfolio of the Secretariat’s work. Mrs Masire-Mwamba was previously CEO at the Botswana Export Development and Investment Authority and Assistant Engineer to the Group Manager, Botswana Telecommunications Corporation. Her academic qualifications include a BSC in Electronics and Physics and an MBA in International Business plus a Bachelor of Laws Degree.
Additional candidates may come forward right up until the selection takes place; there is no deadline for nomination. After they have been endorsed by a member country, candidates make themselves known and seek to build a base of support from all regions by laying out a vision for the Commonwealth.
A new Secretary-General is selected at the CHOGM just before the incumbent’s term expires. The closed session is attended only by Heads of Government or their designated representatives; no other officials are present. The process is overseen by the CHOGM Chair, the head of government of the host country.
There is no formal job description for the post. Nor is there a policy specifying that the post of Secretary-General should be rotated regionally, although candidates must be citizens of Commonwealth countries. Only two terms of four years may now be served.
The Commonwealth Secretary-General promotes and protects the Commonwealth’s values and principles, now set out in the Commonwealth Charter. He or she also represents the Commonwealth globally, and manages the Commonwealth Secretariat and its various programmes.
The Secretary-General facilitates pan-Commonwealth consultation and is responsible for convening biennial Commonwealth Heads of Government Meetings, Commonwealth Ministerial Meetings and a range of other meetings. The Secretary-General maintains regular high-level contacts with Commonwealth governments as well as with civil society and other leaders. Another important function is to exercise ‘Good Offices’ when the Commonwealth’s fundamental values are threatened or when political tensions arise in member states.
The post of Secretary-General was created together with the Commonwealth Secretariat at the 1965 Commonwealth Prime Ministers Conference in London, United Kingdom. Since then there have been five incumbents.
Kamalesh Sharma became Secretary-General on 1 April 2008, after being appointed by heads of government at their meeting in Uganda in November 2007.
Previous Secretaries-General have been Sir Don McKinnon of New Zealand (2000-2008); Chief Emeka Anyaoku of Nigeria (1990-2000); Sir Shridath ‘Sonny’ Ramphal of Guyana (1975-1990); and, Arnold Smith of Canada (1965-1975).
Those who hate for no reason. What are you saying now? After all those unfounded comments about her.
The UWP favorite Mr Sanders, I hope Mr Linton will “investigate” his record? He is all about accountability and clean record. He asked Skerrit to step down for being “friends” with lapset shouldn’t Sanders step down due to the pending investigation and accusation of bribery? This is where I want to see what Lennox I really made of. Is he genuine or he just oppose for the sake of opposing?
And Britain is de Headquarter of de Commonwealth and de Queen de head least we forget all de other nations dat part of de Commonwealth. We de likkle likkle fish in a big basin and we behaving like we is de whole Commonwealth of Nations.
Should have heard the lady on Sky TV cannot deliver on Do I uca post Erika. What a shame.
Following tropical storm Erica there was an outpouring of support from our brothers and sisters round de OECS and CARICOM.
This decision by Roosevelt Skerrit is a classic display of arrogance in the face of his CARICOM colleagues. I can imagine what some people will say behind your back not to mention worst of all TO YOUR FACE!!
Grinning teeth and showing off dimples won’t cut it!
Ever since de arrest of your friend N G Lap Seng you’ve been making some bold statements and crazy executive judgements.
WHO YOU WORKING FOR?
TO WHOM DO YOU PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE! ?
Some wild nasty energy is creeping up on our nation and you acting like you don’t live here!
You shouldn’t have left us in de dark on dat bill in de house. ..there was no emergency! You was in de country the following day!
You shouldn’t have given de people of Vietnam de impression dat you have built 574 houses since passage of Erica!
Why did you desert us?
What document did you sign with. N g?
Can i see it?
Apparently the PM seems very confident that Barones Scotand will be victorious. I guess he knows how he lobbied on her behalf. Good luck to the most worthy nominee.
“Sir Sanders definitely has the edge over Baroness Scotland having lived and worked in the Commonwealth region with hands on knowledge of the plight of the Commonwealth”
are you people serious??? do you all give any thought to you want to say??? doesn’t the Baroness live in the commonwealth??? stop making a fool of yourself.
Not only that but she hold positions in the house where the west minister system was born lol….guess some ppl dunno who is the head of commonwealth countries
\” Patricia Scotland was born in Dominica in 1955, then moved with her family to Britain. She obtained her LLB in 1976, was called to the Bar in 1977 and was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 1991. \”
Just because someone has the title of \”queens Counsel does not make them more important or better than anyone else. Queens counsel is just another title, which means nothing! I will stake my life, and say that woman never set foot in Buckingham Palace never mind counsel Elizabeth. (the only queen Elizabeth she may have counsel is me moodam Elizabeth Xavier)!
There are queens counsel all over the Caribbean who never set foot in England, Skerrit is fascinated with this woman simple because of her phony hypocritical fake British accent, and believe associating with her will make him that important!
Sir Ronald Sanders, knighted by the Queen, is he more important than you or Baroness Scotland. What makes him a better choice than Baroness Scotland. Is it because Sir Ronald Sanders is not associated with the alleged Dominican criminal enterprise but is firmly associated with the alleged Antiguan criminal enterprise?
Francisco rude man? Leave Elizabeth Xavier alone. You must not touch the Lord’s anointed. Read Numbers 12 and for starters see what happened to Muriam Moses sister when she spoke about the Lord’s anointed Moses. It seems though that you do envy the wisdom of Elizabeth Xavier but you can receive that wisdom only if you submit to God , repent of your wicked and arrogant and rude ways, hatred too of PM, and labourites too for no reason. You can do it
Mmasekgoa Masire-Mwamba worked in Botswana, Ronald Sanders worked in Antigua, Barones Scotland worked in Britain… Magwah Sah!
Barones Scotland u never work in the caribbean LEAVE US ALONE Sacway Topey
Attorney General (2007 to 2010), Minister of State (Home Office) (Crime Reduction) (2007 to 2007), Minister of State (Home Office) (Criminal Justice and Offender Management) (2003 to 2007), and Parliamentary Secretary (Lord Chancellor’s Department) (2001 to 2003) in government
Very foolish comments because someone never work in
The Caribbean does not mean they are not a good candidate
All these people who are against our canididate are UWP
We should be proud that we can that we can nominate a candidate
Go PM go
She must win
Baroness Scotland seems to have more on her plate (but within the UK); but when it come to international relations, the 2 others are more qualified, but then again..it’s all about the vote!
I’m praying for Baroness Scotland !!!
Am praying for the individual with most experience, knowledge and capability. The Botswana lady has been Deputy Secretary General for many years and seems most likely the most suitable with her present knowledge of the post. Sir Sanders definitely has the edge over Baroness Scotland having lived and worked in the Commonwealth region with hands on knowledge of the plight of the Commonwealth. My view a sitting British House of Commons Member should not qualify for this opening
“Sir Sanders definitely has the edge over Baroness Scotland having lived and worked in the Commonwealth region with hands on knowledge of the plight of the Commonwealth”
are you people serious??? do you all give any thought to you want to say??? doesn’t the Baroness live in the commonwealth??? stop making a fool of yourself.