TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO 27-29 November 2009 Heads of Commonwealth nations meet 

In 2009 the 53-nation Commonwealth of Nations celebrates the 60th birthday of its modern version with questions about its relevance. Critics regard it as an outdated relic of colonialism, and point to its inability to curb renegade leaders of member countries. Among likely top issues for the 2009 summit of Commonwealth heads in Port of Spain are the global financial crisis, anti-Christian violence in India and Fiji military leader Voreqe Bainimarama. The leaders are also fine-tuning climate change policy.

Encyclopedia Britannica defines the Commonwealth as "a free association of sovereign states comprising the United Kingdom and a number of its former dependencies who have chosen to maintain ties of friendship and practical cooperation and who acknowledge the British monarch as symbolic head of their association."

The new Commonwealth Secretary-General, Kamlesh Sharma, defends the organization as a microcosm of the world. An Indian former career diplomat, he points out that it represents many continents, peoples, races and religions. Member countries include major economies, such as Britain, Canada and Australia, and small and large developing economies. Sharma credits the Commonwealth with seeing Africa through its transition from its colonial past.

In India, the Commonwealth's most populous democracy, anti-Christian riots and rampages by Hindu extremists have claimed at least 38 lives since late August. Dozens of churches have been destroyed and some 30,000 people have been left homeless.

The Commonwealth is advocating fundamental reform of international institutions, including the Bretton Woods Institutions, to deal with the financial crisis.

Debate at the summit about Fiji's return to the Commonwealth fold depend on whether Bainimarama restores democracy in the Pacific island. The Pacific Forum is demanding that he hold elections before 31 Mar 2009.

At the start of the 2007 Commonwealth summit, Britain called for a strong statement on climate change that would urge developed nations to make binding commitments on reducing emissions. The lack of consensus on the issue produced what was described as a vague statement at the conclusion of the summit. It is widely thought at the summit that Canada, a big oil producer, was reluctant agree to a stronger statement. It was criticized for not suggesting any move towards binding international agreements. Britain, in particular, is likely to try again at the 2009 summit to get a strong commitment statement from the Commonwealth.

The summit, known as CHOGM, is the supreme body of the Commonwealth. It is convened every two years to review global, political and economic developments and to conduct a strategic overview of the Commonwealth's work in support of the interests of member countries.

RELATED LINKS:

Commonwealth history (Encyclopedia Britannica)
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/128916/Commonwealth

Summit information (Commonwealth)
http://www.chogm2009.org/index.htm