Who do you think should be in the Commonwealth Eminent Person’s Group?
Posted by ZoeWare - 11/02/10 at 03:02 pm
At the end of their meeting in Trinidad and Tobago in November 2009, Commonwealth leaders called for the establishment of an ‘Eminent Person’s Group’ to undertake an examination of options for reform. Read their full statement about this here. But who do you think should be in the Eminent Person’s Group? People who know lots about the Commonwealth, like former Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser? Or people who know less about it, like businessman Richard Branson? Share your thoughts with us, and we’ll pass them on…
Category : The Commonwealth's Relevance, homepage items
Tags: CHOGM, Eminent Persons Group
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January 24th, 2010 at 4:48 pm
HRH Prince William should definitely be involved at this early stage in his official life. He will, we hope, be Head of the Commonwealth far into the future. By becoming a member of this group, he will also become a founding father of the modern Commonwealth.
January 24th, 2010 at 7:38 pm
Looking at the would be task of the group, knowing much about the commonwealth does not matter; anyone who can understand the meaning and the operation of the core values of the commonwealth, I would think can be a candidate of the group. More importantly, an independent examination would be meaningful; this therefore favours those who know little about the commonwealth. Involvement of such people with little knowledge about the commonwealth would also allow them to appreciate what the commonwealth has been doing and attract them to advocate for the commonwealth.The challenge is not to select people who will just tell the commonwealth what it would like to hear but selecting those who can critique also.
February 3rd, 2010 at 3:57 pm
I think Frank Bainimarama from Fiji should be on it. He coudl teach the Commonwealth a thing or two about how to get things done!
February 4th, 2010 at 11:59 am
We require some high profile but retired politicians should be on the Eminent Persons Group who will be respected for their views.
We need high level retired judges on constitution making, human rights who have implacable credentials.
Similarly we should have Civil Society Leaders with sound country / regional and international reputations who have staying power and can speak truthfully and without fear or favour.
February 5th, 2010 at 9:08 am
I do think President Paul Kagame should be on the list of personalities
The Commonwealth need leaders like him
February 5th, 2010 at 4:30 pm
I was pretty alarmed and saddened, in following the Commonwealth Conversations dialogue, to find that the response was to set up an ‘eminent persons’ group. If we want the Commonwealth to be more than a club of high-ranking civil servants – to actually mean something to citizens, and particularly to young people – around the world, then it seems to me that what is needed is more input from the grass roots, and less from those who (whatever their skills and competencies) may be seen to be out of touch with ‘ordinary’ people. Levels of distrust of politicians and decision makers in all walks of life are high in most countries. What will an eminent persons group achieve? Isn’t this a pretty dated way of thinking about the world?
February 11th, 2010 at 11:02 am
I have read all suggestions members have made but i think it is high time young people take charge of issues affecting this Globe and above all the Commonwealth. Am sure if we have young people being part of this group…it will make progress with assurance of continuity. Lets not forget that 6o% of the Commonwealth countries have high Young populations. Its important that Young people be part of all levels of discussion making, i know many may not support on this but lets remember that “you can not teach some one to drive with out letting him/her sit at the steering wheel and try driving!!!!!!”