Dominica’s Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit has commented on the endorsement of Baroness Patricia Scotland as one of the three candidates nominated by CARICOM for the post of Commonwealth Secretary-General.
At the last CARICOM Heads of Government conference held in Antigua in July, it was agreed that CARICOM would put forward one candidate for the position of Secretary-General of the Commonwealth.
According to the Prime Minister, “In my respectful view, that would’ve been ideal but in these things sometimes you cannot find agreement and countries will stick to their candidates. We just had a similar situation for the Deputy Secretary-General position at the Organization of American States (OAS)…We’ve had these things in the past. My personal hope would have been for a single candidate but after several opportunities to discuss and deliberate on the matter; CARICOM Heads were not able to conclude on one candidate. That’s why we have three…”
Baroness Patricia Scotland is Dominica’s nominee for Commonwealth Secretary-General.
The nation’s leader is confident that her qualifications will serve the Commonwealth well in regional and international affairs.
“We believe that she is highly-qualified and well-suited for that position. She has tremendous experience in law, politics and governance having served in the Cabinet of the United Kingdom for some time. She brings a wealth of knowledge and very strong background in international affairs which will be important for the leadership of the Commonwealth. The Commonwealth nations continue to be an important institution …We have benefited tremendously- the Caribbean and Dominica through our membership of and participation in various Commonwealth institutions.
“We hope that the majority of the commonwealth nations can look at Baroness Scotland’s qualifications and lend their support to her candidacy so we can advance the very important work at the Commonwealth.”
The Right Honourable Baroness Scotland of Asthal is a British barrister, and served in many ministerial positions within the UK Government, most notably as the Attorney-G for England and Wales and Advocate-General for Northern Ireland. She made history in 1991 when she became the first black women to be appointed a Queen’s Counsel.
The Commonwealth Secretary-General is elected to a maximum of two four-year terms and the incumbent, Kamalesh Sharma of India, is due to demit office in April 2016 on the expiration of his second term.
Sharma’s successor is due to be elected at the next Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Malta in November 2015.
Dominica’s Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit, is the leader of the Dominica Labour Part (DLP) – Baroness Patricia Scotland is Dominican born
Reference: Baroness Scotland of Asthal – UK Parliament
Baroness Scotland of Asthal is a life peer in the House of Lords. … Full title. The Rt Hon. the Baroness Scotland of Asthal QC. Name. Patricia Scotland …
Baroness Patricia Scotland, Dominica’s Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit
