Long gone are the days of Empire, a time when we, like so many others around the world, were a part of what was known as The British Empire. For most it was the time of colonialism, and many of the experiences of those times live on in our memories.
There is a general, but human, tendency to think only of the bad experiences, often times overlooking the features which we have in common, and thus passing up the numerous advantages which we have as a consequence, regardless of our people’s ethnicity and physical distance apart.

People from across our region often recall the days when we travelled from one island to the other, lived, attended school, sometimes got married, raised families, and worked without let or hindrance. Now we are investing huge amounts of effort and resources trying to get back to those times.

The Commonwealth of Nations is a truly unique association, one in which people who suffered the horrors of our colonial past, and our descendants, willingly choose to remain associated for the general good of all, and to seek out and strengthen ways in which we can contribute in some way towards the betterment of all, hence the term ‘commonwealth’.
It is an organisation in which our many nation states (some 53) hold membership, but we as individual citizens also do so. Membership is held voluntarily, and members are free to leave should they choose to, but also to return should they also have such a desire.

It is one of the truly unique features of The Commonwealth that no member has ever been expelled. Some left at various times, but in each case they also willingly choose to return to membership.

One of the experiences which we share in common is that of the sacrifices made by millions across what was The Empire, and is now The Commonwealth, in fighting against tyranny in the two World Wars (1914 -1918 and 1939 – 1945).Whether we want to believe or not we are all much better off today because of those sacrifices and the victories ultimately achieved, for had either of those conflicts ended differently none of us would be here today.
It is therefore of great significance that there is now a very special, annual observance of The Commonwealth soldiers who fought for freedom. In 2002 a memorial was inaugurated in London, England, and each year since The Secretary-General of The Commonwealth takes part in a ceremony to honour the five million men and women from Commonwealth nations who served with the armed forces during those two great conflicts.

This year, on Commonwealth Day, Monday 12 March, the focus was on Caribbean soldiers who served during World War 1, a very special feature as the centenary of the 1918 Armistice is drawing nearer.

At this year’s ceremonyHer Excellency The Secretary-General said: “This is an amazingly important memorial because these gates stand to celebrate what men and women did throughout the Commonwealth: coming together to give their lives so that the rest of us could be free and I think we should never forget that.”

Guests were welcomed to the ceremony by Mr Inderjeet Singh Nijhar, the Chairman of the Memorial Gates Council, and guest speakers included The Secretary-General and His Excellency Ambassador Seth George Ramocan, High Commissioner of Jamaica. The closing address was given by The Chaplain to the Speaker of The United Kingdom House of Commons, The Reverend Rose Hudson-Wilkin, after which, it has been said, “guests left the relative comfort of the marquee and walked into the rain to hear the sounding of The Last Post”.

Wreaths were placed at the memorial by The Secretary-General and some 150 dignitaries, amongst whom were High Commissioners and current and former members of the Commonwealth armed forces, the oldest veteran being a 98-year old who was helped to lay his wreath in memory of his fallen comrades. Music for the occasion was provided by a band from the Royal Gurkha Rifles.

Next month, April, the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) takes place in London, in anticipation of which The Secretary-General said:“This Memorial brings home with striking solemnity the ties of kinship and affinity that bind us together as a global family. Cooperation between the member states of The Commonwealth, and among Commonwealth citizens at many levels and in countless practical ways, continues to open up new and wider opportunities in which all can share. Together in the Commonwealth we work to build a future that is fairer, more prosperous, more sustainable and more secure.”
As a Commonwealth we have numerous opportunities to share and build together, if only we would recognise and utilise them. Amongst the many assets passed on to us by the commonalities of that past are our constitutional and jurisprudential heritage. They provide us with many of the means by which we can more easily work together to achieve such developments.

Indeed, one of the statements contained in Her Majesty’s Commonwealth Day Message for 2017 best summaries these particular features:“ By upholding justice and the rule of law, and by striving for societies that are fair and offer opportunities for all, we overcome division and find reconciliation”.