At the Commonwealth Ministerial Meeting on Small States at #CHOGM2026, COL's President and CEO, Peter Scott, and Vice-President, Anne-Marie Scott, are joining discussions on scaling up partnerships and investment to strengthen the resilience of small states, address shared challenges and contribute to a more prosperous future.
Central to this is investing in people, particularly young people, and equipping them with the skills and opportunities to succeed in a changing world. Strong partnerships are essential to expanding successful initiatives and delivering impact at a scale that benefits the Commonwealth's 2.7 billion citizens.
After weeks of working together virtually across the region, youth participants and mentors in COL's Pan-Caribbean Youth Robotics Innovation Project for Blue-Green Resilience and Prosperity are now coming together in person for an exciting few days of learning, collaboration and innovation at #CHOGM2026!
In collaboration with Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), the youth will take part in career labs exploring opportunities in the blue and green economies and engage at UNICEF's Green Rising Fund Launch. They'll also be preparing their robotics prototypes designed to address regional resilience challenges for the CHOGM Youth Forum showcase on 3 November, where they'll present their ideas and innovations to Commonwealth leaders.
We're excited to welcome everyone to Antigua and Barbuda and help bring Caribbean youth voices and solutions to the world stage!
This Independence Day carries special significance for Antigua and Barbuda. As the country celebrates its independence on 1 November, it also welcomes Commonwealth Member Countries and institutions, Accredited Organisations, and community groups from across the world to St John’s for CHOGM 2026.
Guided by the theme “Accelerating Partnerships and Investment for a Prosperous Commonwealth,” heads of government are advancing action on shared priorities, including climate resilience, innovation, trade, equality and sustainable development. For Antigua and Barbuda, these conversations reflect priorities that matter especially to small island states: building resilience, investing in people, creating opportunities and strengthen\ing the partnerships needed for sustainable development.
Building 21st-century skills, particularly for young people, is an important part of this wider ambition. Antigua and Barbuda is strengthening teacher professional development through its Professional Development Governance Framework, while its National Policy for TVET supports a more responsive skills system linked to workforce needs and regional mobility. Digital and flexible learning, food security, farmer training and youth robotics for blue-green economies are also helping to build practical skills and more resilient livelihoods.
As Antigua and Barbuda marks its independence and opens its doors to the Commonwealth family, we celebrate a country bringing its experience as a small island state to a much wider conversation about partnership, investment and collective prosperity.
Warm wishes to the people of Antigua and Barbuda on Independence Day, and every success as the country hosts CHOGM 2026.
Caribbean youth have been working across borders and blue waters to design robotics solutions to shared challenges. Tomorrow, they’ll bring their innovations to Commonwealth leaders at #CHOGM2026!
On 3 November, 1–3 pm, participants in COL’s Pan-Caribbean Youth Robotics Project
When small states succeed, the Commonwealth succeeds.
At the Commonwealth Ministerial Meeting on Small States, COL President and CEO Peter Scott and Vice-President Anne-Marie Scott join discussions on scaling up partnerships, investment and youth skills to strengthen resilience.
After weeks of working together virtually across the region, youth participants and mentors in COL's Pan-Caribbean Youth Robotics Innovation Project for Blue-Green Resilience and Prosperity are now coming together in person for an exciting few days of learning, collaboration and
