St Lucia PM: Commonwealth of great benefit to small states
Posted by AlexT - 12/10/09 at 12:10 pmIn an interview with Commonwealth Radio, the Prime Minister of Saint Lucia, Stephenson King, described how Commonwealth membership is important to small states. 
“Here in St Lucia, we value our membership highly. Not just for prestige, but for the kind of cooperation that exists between member territories, such as the advice that we receive, technical assistance and an opportunity to participate in the design of the modern world. The Commonwealth plays a major role in this. It is not influential within itself, but influential at the international level. We have a great opportunity to influence the direction of the world. Whether it is at the G20 or at the United Nations, our membership of 53 certainly goes a long way.”
“There are some very relevant issues that we, as small island states with all of our vulnerabilities, face. Be it climate change or the world financial crisis, these are issues that we would hope our more established and more economically viable brothers and sisters - five of whom are part of the G20 - would see, recognize, embrace and join us in the advocacy process. To be able to receive that international appeal that we so much call for and to articulate at the United Nations, or wherever that place may be, an appreciation of what we experience.”
Listen to the recordings here and here.
Category : Mobility & Exchange, The Commonwealth's Relevance, homepage items
Tags: King, St Lucia
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October 13th, 2009 at 10:52 am
It’s not the small states that pay for it though
October 13th, 2009 at 10:34 pm
…and therefore they shouldn’t have a say?
This is one of the best things about the Commonwealth. While it isn’t always overt, there is the possibility for LEDCs to have a voice at the high table of the rich powers. The Commonwealth is able to defend the interests of developing states om an international stage, as members consist at every imaginable economic level. Which is marvellous.
The Commonwealth should play this up more. The phrase ‘PR Disaster’ has cropped up many times so far in the Conversation, and it’s clear that this type of multi-lateral representation is rarely referenced in the media of the Westernesse Member states.
October 14th, 2009 at 4:05 pm
Or probably by the small states themselves…
It would be nice to point to some real tangible benefits that the Commonwealth has brought to its members. I doubt anybody in St Lucia would be able to point to something concrete and say “this is what the Commonwealth has done for me”.
October 15th, 2009 at 5:38 pm
I think this is a very worthy article. All too often the voices of smaller states are not heard, even within the relatively low profile Commonwealth.
Is it interesting that he discusses the Commonwealth, not as something usefull and relvant in itself, but as a conduit to access the power of larger nations.
“It is not influential within itself” to quote him directly.
October 15th, 2009 at 9:12 pm
RFLowings, I would contend that it is not played up because the benefits are not explicit. As JonathanFrancis mentions above, all the PM is saying is that the Commonwealth happens to be a tool to reach other more influential organisations.
October 15th, 2009 at 11:41 pm
Then there’s clearly something wrong with the way the Commonwealth goes about its business. If it isn’t a major development player then it needs to work towards becoming one.
I suppose I’m basing my statement on the appreciation Mr. King has expressed for Cth membership. The fact that it is extant here shows that the Commonwealth is at least understood by St. Lucia’s politicians.
It’s an interesting fact that politicians, so much reviled in Westernesse member states, seem to be the ones to express support for the Commonwealth, whereas ordinary civilians do not in the same way… Once again, a failure of PR? Or a ruling class defending its own interests? The Commonwealth’s mission statement makes the latter unlikely.