Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley receives a copy of the publication ‘A Common Wealth of Experience’ from Chairperson of the Royal Commonwealth Society, Barbados Branch, Cheryll Belle in the Ermy Bourne Committee Room of Parliament yesterday. (C.Pitt/BGIS)

Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley stressed the importance of the Commonwealth today as she was presented with a copy of the book: A Common Wealth of Experience, in the Ermy Bourne Committee Room, Parliament.

Chairperson of the Royal Commonwealth Society (RCS), Barbados Branch, Cheryll Belle, presented Ms. Mottley with the book, which comprises stories from 22 countries, including five essays from young Barbadians.

The Prime Minister said the Commonwealth represents that entity which speaks to diversity, tolerance and respect.  She continued: “You can’t have over 60 countries across the world from different backgrounds…and not have diversity.  At the very time, the world is…undermining multilateralism and diversity, the Commonwealth potentially has the ability to be that counterpoint to what is happening in the world.

“Regrettably, it does not have, and has not exercised the force that it can.  I can only hope that it will find within its member states and within itself as a collective, the power to summon that voice and to forge that action that is critical to protect the small, the vulnerable and those who would not otherwise be recognized at the global community; those who are invisible and those who would be viewed as dispensable and disposable.”

Trustee of the RCS, Barbados Branch, Miles Weekes, explained that in 2017, the Commonwealth Association of Aging organized a Story Telling Project and young people between the ages of 15 and 24 living the Commonwealth were encouraged to spend time with persons 80 years and over in their countries.

He pointed out that the young people recorded their untold real life stories and the best 50 essays selected by the editorial team were published in the special book. Five essays, he stated, were submitted from Barbados, and they were all considered worthy for inclusion in the book, which has been dedicated to older people everywhere.

Richilde Hunte wrote the essay on Harold Clarke, who passed away before the book was published; while Thomas King wrote on Dame Avis Carrington; Ocean Cumberbatch-Campbell recorded Sir Everton Weekes’ story; Kobie Broomes penned Ada Straughn’s and Krystal Hoyte captured that of Dame Maizie Barker-Welch.

Mr. Weekes said the project was important because it allowed information to be transferred.  Stating that the Commonwealth was 70 years old, he stressed that it was necessary to transfer its values to younger people, so they too could continue to pass them on to generations.

He noted that the Commonwealth has a charter which sets out a number of principles, which governments participating in the political side of the Commonwealth adhered to.

“Our belief in the Royal Commonwealth Society is that if those same principles were adhered to by people on an individual level, we would have a much better society. Therefore, the intent of all the work that we do is to try to pass on to the younger people what those values are, and to get them to live them as part of their lives,” he surmised.

sharon.austingill-moore@barbados.gov.bb

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