PRESIDENT Donald Ramotar in his interaction with Heads of State and Government at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting which concluded yesterday in Colombo, Sri Lanka noted that their meeting afforded the opportunity for them as leaders of the Commonwealth to recommit to the values and principles of the organisation. In particular he highlighted the enormous contribution which the Commonwealth had made over the years in the strengthening of democracy.

Acknowledging that the countries of the Commonwealth were at varying levels of development, President Ramotar said that it was important as they sought to strengthen the Organisation, that the diversity of the Commonwealth be cherished and respected. He noted that in a world facing many political, socio-economic and environmental problems, the Commonwealth remaineda relevant institution as countries worked together to find common solutions.
President Ramotar took the opportunity to update Heads of State and Government on the work of the Iwokrama International Rainforest Centre. Heads acknowledged the valuable role that the Iwokrama Rainforest Programme continued to play in promoting research on the impact of climate change as well as in the development of models for sustainable forest management in transition to low carbon development. They therefore supported the intensification of efforts to find a long term solution to develop sustained financing for the Programme.
President Ramotar joined his Colleague Heads of State and Government in expressing his sincere appreciation to the President of Sri Lanka Mahinda Rajapaksaas well as to the people of Sri Lanka for the excellent arrangements put in place for the hosting of the meeting and the warm and gracious welcome accorded to all of the delegations which set the tone for serious and substantive dialogue and a successful outcome of the meeting.
President Ramotar was accompanied by First Lady DeolatchmieRamotar and his delegation comprised the Honourable Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Elisabeth Harper, Director General, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Guyana’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom His Excellency Laleshwar Singh.