Sun | May 12, 2024

Annual luncheon of the Royal Commonwealth Society

Published:Tuesday | December 23, 2014 | 3:08 PM
Contributed Seated Peggy Blades vice president. Standing from left: Winston Bayley, Consul of Barbados: Dotsie Gordon, executive member; Indera Persaud-chairman and honorary consul of Guyana; Edward Zacca, President and patron; Shirley Reeson, Secretary; David Fitton British High Commissioner; Maria Hudson, Regional director of Duke of Edinborough Awards; Phillip Clarke Treasurer and Joy Grant-Carter Justice of the Peace and Lay magistrate

The Royal Commonwealth Society of Jamaica, recently held its annual luncheon at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel. The guest of honour was the British High Commissioner, David Fitton.

The president, Indera Persaud, consul for Guyana, in her address spoke about the main tenets of the Royal Charter of the Commonwealth, which was signed last year by Queen Elizabeth II.

These include Democracy; Human Rights; International Peace and Security; Tolerance, Respect And Understanding; Freedom of Expression; Separation of Powers; Rule of Law; Good Governance; Sustainable Development; Protecting The Environment; Access To Health, Education, Food and Shelter and Gender Equality.

The Commonwealth is divided into five Regions, the 53 country members of The Commonwealth include a significant number of small states, alongside some of the world's largest and wealthiest countries. All members are equal and all subscribe to the values described in the Commonwealth Charter. Within the Americas region, there are 13 Commonwealth countries: Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Canada, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, and Trinidad and Tobago.