09 March 2020 | Foreign Affairs.
As we mark Commonwealth Day this year, it is an opportune moment for us to remind ourselves of the core principles and values espoused by the Commonwealth, an organisation which we joined at our independence. The Commonwealth has stood the test of time for 70 years, embracing diversity and tolerance and constantly adapting to meet current and future challenges. This diverse family of nations is a shining example of how much can be achieved when the collective strength of its members is harnessed for the common good.
This year’s theme, ‘Delivering a Common Future: Connecting, Innovating, Transforming’, reminds and rallies the governments and people of all 54 member states individually and collectively to play a more active role in tackling the pressing challenges of our time. Connecting can only be achieved through working together and sharing of expertise, giving space for innovations which lead to positively transformed societies. As we approach the 26th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in June 2020 in Kigali, Rwanda, the need – and our determination – to deliver the Commonwealth vision for a common future has never been greater.
For Seychelles, as a small island developing state, the Commonwealth has been an invaluable partner in many aspects our nation-building process. Let us, on this day, reflect on this theme and see how each and every one of us can translate its ambitions into actions in our everyday lives.
