| Danial Norjidi |
THE Commonwealth’s collaboration with its member countries sees their governments and institutions deliver inclusive progress and beneficial reforms for the welfare of all their citizens, and Brunei plays a very full part in adding to the benefits of this Commonwealth collaboration.
Reaffirming this was Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland while delivering her public lecture on Tuesday at Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD).
The lecture was part of the secretary-general’s itinerary for her first official visit to Brunei Darussalam, the first leg of an 11-day tour to three Commonwealth countries.
Among the attendees at the event were Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade Datin Paduka Tan Bee Yong, UBD Vice-Chancellor Datin Dr Hajah Anita Binurul Zahrina binti Pehin Orang Kaya Laila Wijaya Dato Seri Setia Haji Awang Abdul Aziz, as well as Legislative Council Members Yang Berhormat Nik Hafimi binti Abdul Haadii and Yang Berhormat Khairunnisa binti Haji Ash’ari.
The secretary-general spoke on the Commonwealth, its initiatives and the results of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) 2018 that took place in London last April.
In her address, she said, “The international affairs of the world right now are in a state of flux, and it’s more apparent that we can no longer depend on the certainties of the past. So it’s a pleasure to have this opportunity of considering with you the ways in which the Commonwealth collectively, and the cooperation amongst our members, helps to bring a greater degree of certainty, stability and inclusiveness to a world which is increasingly fractured and divided.
“The affinity and deep roots of the Commonwealth connection provide the foundations on which we build towards a common future. The continuing ability of the Commonwealth to respond to the needs of people in all of our member countries is the product of systems and mechanisms that adapt and revolve, remaining true to our fundamental values and principles, yet ready and equipped to pioneer fresh approaches to emerging challenges.”
The secretary-general continued, “We have large countries, small countries, landlocked countries – all of us are a section of the global community, and therefore if we, the Commonwealth, can come together and agree, it creates a pathway for others perhaps to agree also.”
She added that youth and sport are important areas of Commonwealth focus and cooperation, particularly with 60 per cent of the combined Commonwealth population of 2.4 billion being under the age of 30.
“In this respect, I acknowledge the immensely important contribution made by this university and other academic institutions in this country through the Brunei Darussalam Commonwealth Third-Country Training Programme,” Scotland said.
“The programme has been particularly valuable in building the capacity of Pacific Island member states, and is a fine and most commendable example of how Commonwealth countries can work collaboratively towards our shared objectives.
“This includes performance management of effective implementation of our Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and I understand that the university’s motto translates in English as ‘Towards Human Excellence’, and this noble aspiration relates closely to our 2018 Commonwealth theme, which was ‘Towards a Common Future’. This was also a theme in the CHOGM meeting in April with paid special attention to working for a fairer, more secure, more prosperous and more sustainable future.”
One of the initiatives, the secretary-general highlighted, was the Commonwealth Innovation Hub.
The Commonwealth Innovation Hub, launched on the opening day of the CHOGM 2018, is a digital platform designed to tap and unleash the ideas and innovation potential of the Commonwealth.
Addressing the youth at the event, the secretary-general said, “The inspiration that I gain from just being around our Commonwealth young people is just extraordinary, because within your purview I see all our hopes for a peaceful and better future. Having the privilege to study in this university is just a start, but I know that what you will achieve, not just for Brunei but for our Commonwealth, is going to be quite extraordinary.
“So may I as secretary-general, on behalf of the 2.4 billion members of our Commonwealth, just say thank you to each and every one of you, but also thank you to your vice-chancellor, because these are the years when futures are shaped, and what you shape here will help to shape our future Commonwealth, and through it, the world.
“So I’m thanking you for what you have already done, but I’m thanking all the young people for what I know you will do in the future.”