St Kitts and Nevis to represent Caribbean at Commonwealth Law Ministers Action Group

St Kitts and Nevis: St Kitts and Nevis is all set to represent the Caribbean and the Americas at the Commonwealth Law Ministers Action Group. The country was elected by Commonwealth Law Ministers in the meeting held in Balaclava, Mauritius, on Thursday, November 24, 2022. 

 Along with the Federation, Jamaica and seven other countries were elected by Attorneys General and Law Ministers at the meeting. The Law Ministers Action Group is known as the advisory body to the Secretary General of the Commonwealth. It was established with the aim of building the effective rule of law and equal access to justice frameworks in the Commonwealth.

In the meeting, the Federation’s Attorney-General and Minister of Justice and Legal Affairs, Garth Wilkin, said that he is—”proud that our small but internationally impactful Nation has been elected to represent the Caribbean on this important Action Group which is tasked with reviewing progress and advising on the key rule of law and equal access to justice strategies, action plans and projects being undertaken by or with the involvement of the Commonwealth Secretariat, such as promoting member countries’ realization of their Sustainable Development Goal 16 targets. The Action Group will also be implementing decisions, declarations, and action plans adopted by Law Ministers at their biennial meeting; and implementing decisions, declarations, and action plans endorsed or proclaimed by Commonwealth Heads of Government at their biennial meetings.”

The Law Ministers Action Group consisted of Law Ministers from 9 of the 56 Commonwealth member countries: one (1) from Europe, two (2) from the Caribbean/Americas region, three (3) from Africa, and three (3) from the Asia/Pacific region. 

The Education Ministerial Action Group, Commonwealth Advisory Committee on Health, Commonwealth Advisory Body on Sport, and the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group also included other similar Action Groups. 

St Kitts and Nevis joins Jamaica, Tanzania, Samoa, Mauritius, Malaysia, Malta and Namibia at the Table to promote the UN Sustainable Development Goal. 

BY ATTORNEY GENERAL HON GARTH WILKIN stated, “I am pleased to report to my fellow Kittitians and Nevisians, home and abroad, that our Federation has been elected by Commonwealth Law Ministers to represent the Caribbean and the Americas on the Commonwealth Law Ministers Action Group.” 

Foreign Minister of St Kitts and Nevis- Denzil Douglas, noted that they should all be proud of this election, which allows the small Nation to have a loud international voice in reviewing progress and advising the Commonwealth Secretariat on key Rule of Law and Equal Access to Justice strategies throughout the Commonwealth’s 56 member countries.

He added that St Kitts and Nevis is now at the table in promoting member countries’ realization of their United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 16 targets. 

“We share this honour with eight other nations: Jamaica, Tanzania, Namibia, Malaysia, Malta, Samoa and Mauritius. It is important for your Government to take up space in the international arena and uphold the Rule of Law whilst we navigate the advancement of our proud Nation in this globalized world, “said the foreign minister.