APIA, Samoa – 24 October, 2024 – Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, Honourable Gaston Browne, on Thursday held a series of bilateral meetings with world leaders from the Independent State of Samoa, the Republic of Rwanda, and the Republic of Fiji ahead of the 2024 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM). The discussions focused on Antigua and Barbuda’s bid to host CHOGM 2026 and shared challenges faced by Small Island Developing States (SIDS), particularly on Climate Change.

During his meeting with the Honourable Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa, Prime Minister of the Independent State of Samoa, Prime Minister Browne received firm assurances of Samoa’s support for Antigua and Barbuda’s bid to host the 2026 CHOGM. Samoa is currently hosting the 2024 CHOGM, and Prime Minister Mata’afa availed her government to assist Antigua and Barbuda in planning and executing the anticipated event.

The Prime Ministers explored the critical issue of access to financing for SIDS, underlying the need for more flexible and innovative financing models that are scalable and tailored to the vulnerabilities of SIDS. The heads of government highlighted the importance of creating frameworks within the Commonwealth to ensure equitable access to resources and the development of climate-resilient infrastructures.

Additionally, both leaders reaffirmed their shared commitment to climate action, agreeing on the importance of collaboration among SIDS to address the escalating climate crisis. Prime Minister Browne emphasised the urgency of collective advocacy in international fora, particularly to secure stronger commitments on climate financing, loss and damage, and resilience-building for vulnerable island nations.

Prime Minister Browne’s bilateral engagements with Honourable Paul Kagame, President of the Republic of Rwanda and Honourable Sitiveni Rabuka, Prime Minister of the Republic of Fiji, also focused on strengthening multilateral ties, emphasising climate resilience and sustainable development. Both countries reiterated their support for Antigua and Barbuda’s CHOGM bid and agreed to reinforce the Commonwealth’s role in addressing the unique needs of SIDS within the global climate change framework.

Prime Minister Browne also raised the critical issue of reparatory justice in all his bilateral discussions, advocating for global recognition and compensation for the historical injustices of the transatlantic slave trade. This call for reparations remains a key initiative of CARICOM, with Prime Minister Browne urging his counterparts to support the Caribbean’s ongoing efforts to secure justice and reparative measures for the descendants of enslaved people.