Foreign Minister E.P. Chet Greene with India’s outgoing High Commissioner, Dr. Amit Telang (photo by Office of the Prime Minister)
Foreign Affairs Minister E.P. Chet Greene has made a strong case for small states, including Antigua and Barbuda, to be fully included in global decision-making, warning against their exclusion from international discussions that directly affect their well-being.
Minister Greene expressed these views on Monday during a farewell call by India’s outgoing High Commissioner to St. John’s, Dr. Amit Telang, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
He pointed to Antigua and Barbuda’s decision to host the upcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in November as a clear demonstration of the country’s commitment to global engagement. The minister acknowledged that hosting CHOGM carries significant financial costs—burdens that small states cannot shoulder alone without the support of international partners such as India.
Despite the challenges, Greene said the country’s objective is clear: to prove that small states have a meaningful role to play on the world stage.
“I think it is more important now, as we witness the death blows being struck against multilateralism, for small states to come to the fore,” the minister said. “There is value in our smallness. It is our combined numbers that will allow us to stave off some of the looming challenges before us. This places us in a difficult, yet pivotal position as we seek to help reset the global agenda.”
Minister Greene added that Antigua and Barbuda and India share common perspectives on key global issues, particularly within the Global South. He stressed the importance of deeper cooperation among developing nations at a time of significant global change.
“We have to do more with the Global South and show that our countries can work more closely,” he said. “The world is at an inflection point, and it is our ability to rise to the occasion that will ultimately make the difference.”
Antigua and Barbuda’s only living National Hero, Sir Vivian Richards—who has been appointed Ambassador for CHOGM and remains immensely popular in India—was invited to join the minister in bidding farewell to the outgoing High Commissioner.
Sir Vivian Richards with India’s outgoing High Commissioner, Dr. Amit Telang (photo by Office of the Prime Minister)
Sir Vivian said he was pleased to be part of the occasion, noting that he and Dr. Telang had met previously and developed a warm friendship. He joined Minister Greene in wishing the diplomat every success in his new assignment in India.
In his remarks, High Commissioner Telang expressed gratitude to the staff of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for their cooperation over the past two years, saying their support was instrumental in the achievements of his tenure.
He also acknowledged Sir Vivian’s presence, noting that while Richards is a National Hero in Antigua and Barbuda, he is equally revered in India, where his cricketing legacy continues to command deep respect.
Having a seat at the table isn’t about symbolism; it’s about survival. Policies shaped without small states often end up hurting them the most.