Government, people of St. Kitts and Nevis congratulate Baroness Scotland
Basseterre, St. Kitts and Nevis – Prime Minister of the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis, Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris, has extended congratulations to Baroness Patricia Janet Scotland, 60, on her election as Commonwealth Secretary-General.
It is a good feeling to know that a candidate promoted by the Caribbean with strong attachments to the region and a broad global view in the pedigree of Baroness Scotland should lead the Commonwealth of Nations in a new era when solutions are required to critical problems,” said Prime Minister Harris.
Baroness Scotland has the best wishes of the Government and People of St. Kitts and Nevis,” Prime Minister Thomas said.
Baroness Scotland was nominated by the Commonwealth of Dominica. The other candidate from the Region was Sir Ronald Sanders who was put forward by Antigua and Barbuda. The other contender was Mmasekgoa Masire-Mwamba, a national of Botswana who served two terms as Deputy Secretary-General of the Commonwealth Secretariat from 2008-2014.
In her first press conference as Commonwealth Secretary General-elect, Baroness Scotland said it was “such an honour to be appointed to this role” and added that Antigua was also a winner because she was Antiguan on her father’s side.
I am a daughter of Africa too. I am truly a child of the Commonwealth. I hope that the 53 of us will look to create a better world for our children,” she said.
Baroness Scotland, who was born in Dominica, but who moved to England (where she grew up) when she was three years old, was able to garner the majority of votes from the 53 member states of the Commonwealth of Nations at the 24th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) being held in Valletta, Malta, from November 27-29, 2015.
She will succeed Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma, 74. Mr Sharma was the fifth Secretary-General of the Commonwealth of Nations. He assumed the position in 2008, having previously served as the High Commissioner for India in London. (Excerpted from St Kitts and Nevis Information Service Press Release)