Crafts History – By Jeressa Jeremy
Crafts History Smallest Nation
Antigua and Barbuda is making history as the smallest island nation to host the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) when the historic event takes place from 1st to 4th November, this year, with King Charles expected to be in attendance.
The meeting is being held under the theme “Accelerating Partnerships and Investment for a Prosperous Commonwealth”.
Following Jamaica’s hosting in 1975, the twin-island nation follows the Bahamas in (1985), and Trinidad and Tobago (2009) as the fourth Caribbean setting since the summit’s inception in 1971.
During the first official media briefing held yesterday, at the John E St Luce Finance and Conference Center, organizers said that hosting the 28th meeting is a landmark achievement, positioning Antigua and Barbuda as a key diplomatic center for Small Island Developing States (SIDS).
Among details shared by the organizers, the meeting heard that nearly 6,000 delegates are expected, including heads of state from 56 nations at the summit which is set to provide a significant boost to the local economy and tourism sector.
In addition to the plenary sessions, there will be public events including a two-tier cricket tournament at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium on November 1, coinciding with the 45th anniversary of Antigua and Barbuda’s Independence. This will feature a match between Commonwealth Caribbean heads and senior officials, followed by a game with U23 rising stars.
Also on the schedule is “Global Citizen Nights”, a concert scheduled for November 2, a marquee event expected to feature international headliners alongside regional stars and local voices, with a live stream reaching a global audience of over 12 million followers.
A 24-hour Media Centre will be established at the American University of Antigua (AUA) campus to accommodate 260 accredited personnel.
Organizers confirmed that while public events remain open to the press, the Heads of Government Retreat will be strictly off-limits.
To ensure fair coverage, media pools will be structured to include representatives from the five Commonwealth regions, with a guaranteed spot for local media in each pool.
Due to heightened security protocols and limited parking, dedicated transportation will be provided for all journalists to manage transit between restricted venues.
An announcement for the start of the official accreditation process will be relayed in a later update.
