Former Host – By Jeressa Jeremy
Former Host Offers Advice
Antigua and Barbuda received hosting advice from a former CHOGM host country during a question-and-answer session with the Commonwealth representative and Samoa’s High Commissioner, Her Excellency Francella Strickland.
The session was held during a lunch break at Garden Grill between 2 and 3:30 pm last Wednesday.
The High Commissioner, who represented Samoa—the most recent CHOGM host in 2024—shared insights on preparations and what the twin island nation can expect as it prepares to host the upcoming meeting.
Strickland encouraged Antigua and Barbuda to build on existing planning efforts and to lean on support from partner countries throughout the process.
“Don’t feel like you’re alone. It’s also important to know that your partners such as Samoa and the other members of Commonwealth, they all want it to be a success as much as you do,” she said.
“And I think that’s very important to make sure to also lean on and look at those partnerships to help you make this a success. And so, I think that’s something that I’m seeing Antigua’s already doing.”
She also touched on the importance of ensuring that the host country reflects its own identity during the event.
“Every CHOGM should be different. It should not be London in Antigua and Barbuda. It should not be Rwanda. It should not be Apia.
“It should have its own Antigua and Barbuda Caribbean flavour to CHOGM. So, I think that’s the exciting bit. And I’m very pleased to see a lot of the planning that has started and a lot of the work. It should have its own Antigua and Barbuda Caribbean flavour,” she said.
Strickland also expressed why these planning visits are important.
“At least what I’m seeing from the delegations [who are] here, it’s a mixture of foreign affairs, a mixture of their security personnel. So, part of this planning visit is for them to come check out things, the usual accommodation, [and] experience themselves, how to travel to Antigua.”
She further said that the reports from the delegates said that they are pleased with what they’ve seen so far of the host country.
“They’re very pleased to see the hotels where their leaders might stay at, to have a look at just the distance of travel between the island and the smoothness of the organization. And I think these are things delegations are looking at, as they start planning to come to Antigua, from security to accommodation arrangements. And, but I have to say already, that hospitality from when we land, and that feeling, oh, I really want to come back.”
She ended by saying that Samoa is “very pleased and very proud“to pass the baton on to Antigua and Barbuda as the next host for CHOGM.
“I think having hosted it, it was quite an excellent experience. It was an opportunity for Samoa to play a leadership role in the Commonwealth.
“And so, we are very pleased to see that as small island developing states, as members of the Commonwealth, that we will now pass the leadership on to another sister small island developing states, Antigua. And I’m very pleased to be here. It’s been lovely and I feel at home,” High Commissioner Strickland said.
