September 13 2026 | Local | E. P. Chet Greene
Hon. E.P. Chet Greene and Commonwealth Secretary-General, the Hon. Shirley Botchwey
Antigua and Barbuda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Immigration, the Honourable E.P. Chet Greene, has held high-level discussions with Commonwealth Secretary-General, the Honourable Shirley Botchwey, as preparations intensify for the 2026 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).
With less than two months before Commonwealth leaders gather in St. John’s from November 1 to 4, the meeting focused on the country’s readiness to host the high-level summit, outstanding priorities and continued coordination between the Government of Antigua and Barbuda and the Commonwealth Secretariat.
Discussions included updates on preparations for the Commonwealth Foreign Affairs Ministers Meeting (CFAMM) and the Commonwealth Ministerial Meeting on Small States (CMMSS), both key components of the wider CHOGM programme.
Minister Greene was briefed on the proposed agendas, policy priorities and logistical preparations for the ministerial meetings. The discussions also examined follow-up matters arising from the 26th Commonwealth Foreign Affairs Ministers Meeting held earlier this year, as preparations advance for the 27th CFAMM, which will take place during CHOGM in St. John’s.
The 27th CFAMM will bring together Commonwealth foreign ministers to address key policy issues and advance areas of cooperation ahead of deliberations by Heads of Government.
Particular attention was also given to the CMMSS, which will be co-chaired by Antigua and Barbuda, as host country, and the Maldives. The meeting is expected to provide Commonwealth small states with an important platform to consolidate common positions and advance priorities ahead of the leaders’ discussions.
For Antigua and Barbuda, the meeting is especially significant given the country’s longstanding advocacy on issues affecting small and vulnerable states.
These include climate and economic vulnerability, resilience, access to development financing and sustainable economic growth.
Antigua and Barbuda’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom and CHOGM 2026 Focal Point, Her Excellency Karen-Mae Hill, also participated in the discussions. She stressed the importance of maintaining close engagement with the Commonwealth Secretariat, the United Kingdom Government and other partners as preparations enter their final phase.
Minister Greene and High Commissioner Hill also emphasized that preparations must focus equally on operational readiness and meaningful outcomes.
Antigua and Barbuda is therefore seeking to ensure that CHOGM 2026 is not only successfully hosted, but also provides an environment where Commonwealth members can strengthen cooperation and pursue practical outcomes with lasting value.
The meeting forms part of Minister Greene’s wider programme of consultations ahead of the summit and reinforces the close working relationship between Antigua and Barbuda and the Commonwealth Secretariat.
Also attending were Caleb Gardiner, Third Secretary at the Antigua and Barbuda High Commission in London.
