APIA: King Charles arrived in Samoa on Wednesday (Oct 23) forward of a Commonwealth summit, hoping to breathe new life right into a bloc seen by critics as “a leftover of empire”.
This 12 months’s Commonwealth Heads of Authorities Assembly takes place in Apia, the coastal capital of Samoa, midway between New Zealand and Hawaii.
The biennial assembly between 56 world leaders is predicted to draw round 3,000 delegates, however essentially the most high-profile company might be King Charles and Queen Camilla, contemporary from their tour of Australia.
The convention is the primary hosted by a Pacific Island nation and might be an “extraordinary” alternative to showcase the area, Commonwealth Secretary-Basic Patricia Scotland instructed AFP.
Scotland hopes the summit will “cement” the Commonwealth household “as we glance to what, for a lot of, is a really troubled and complicated future”.
“We now have two selections globally. We are able to both swim collectively or we are able to drown individually,” she mentioned.
“The Commonwealth has by no means been for drowning. It is at all times been for preventing.”
Scotland’s sentiment is mirrored within the theme of this 12 months’s summit: “One Resilient Widespread Future”, with discussions to give attention to the surroundings, democratic methods, economic system, youth, gender and digital transformation.
RISING SEAS
Local weather change and rising sea ranges are anticipated to characteristic closely, with world leaders to deliberate on an Ocean Declaration which can intention to prioritise initiatives for a wholesome and resilient ocean.
There isn’t a place just like the Pacific nations to finest spotlight this “existential risk”, Scotland mentioned.
As soon as seen because the embodiment of palm-fringed paradise, the South Pacific is now one of the vital climate-threatened pockets of the planet.
Many communities within the area have been pressured to relocate to larger floor as rising seas swallow their houses.
About 70 per cent of Samoa’s inhabitants lives in low-lying coastal areas.
GUNS AND ROSES
Samoa has spent months making ready for the summit, together with renovating motels and working a two-month gun amnesty to make sure the protection of world leaders and summit attendees.
The scheme provided unlawful gun homeowners US$36 in grocery vouchers in the event that they surrendered their firearms.
Every Commonwealth nation has been adopted by a village, which has been embellished in that nation’s colors and nationwide flags.
Samoan resident Mata’afa Keni Lesa instructed AFP he was “very excited” to point out off “the most effective of our Samoan hospitality”.