THE COMMONWEALTH  Eminent Persons Group (EPG) is on course to deliver a bold set of proposals to the 54 Heads of Government  in Australia in October after its third meeting held in Malaysia last week.. The EPG was appointed last July following the last Commonwealth Heads of Government Conference in Trinidad and Tobago in  November 2009 to propose ways to strengthen Commonwealth institutions and sharpen their impact to ensure a better future.
Interviewed following the latest meeting of the study group in Malaysia, Sir Ronald said: “Our objective is to get the top  decision-makers in the Commonwealth to embrace change that will make the Commonwealth relevant to the lives of ordinary  people”.
He explained that the group has now completed more than two-thirds of its report and this includes some significant  recommendations for the Commonwealth to take in helping the development of its member countries.
“Among them”, said Sir Ronald, “will be structured strategic partnerships with the private sector and foundations within  and outside the Commonwealth to deliver targeted help in areas where it is needed. This includes tackling disease and human  resource development”.
The former senior Caribbean diplomat noted that climate change and sea level rise also pose huge threats to all  Commonwealth countries, including the United Kingdom and Australia, and not only to small island states
Turning to the perception that the Commonwealth – once an organisation associated with big issues such as the fight against  apartheid in South Africa – has lost its relevance, Sir Ronald indicated that the group is very aware of this perception.
Consequently, it will be recommending that the Commonwealth identify specific global issues in which its diverse membership   can best play a part.
“The burden of debt in the developing Commonwealth countries, especially small states, has also been an area on which we  have focused”, Sir Ronald said. (RS)