Improving primary health care in rural communities in the Commonwealth is a goal arising from discussions of groups participating in the Commonwealth Civil Society Forum at the Cascadia Hotel in St. Ann’s.
President of the Commonwealth Medical Association Dr. Sundaram Arulrhaj says a system known as e-health care, which would computerise filing systems and create a database for all patients treated at various healthcare institutions, would encourage greater efficiency at hospitals across the Commonwealth.

The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) 2009 officially opened this morning in Port of Spain with a call by the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Patrick Manning to ensure that CHOGM reaches some consensus on the issue of climate change.

CHOGM is the last meeting before the Copenhagen climate talks but with very little consensus on the issue up to this point, Mr. Manning urged his fellow leaders not to be “victims of pessimism” on the outcomes of this meeting.

He urged them to do their utmost to engender partnership on the issue, saying the Commonwealth is in a good position to lead the way forward. “Let us in a harmonious environment decide how we would like to proceed,” Mr Manning said.

President Richards, Prime Minister Manning, President Museveni, Secretary-General, Ladies and Gentlemen,

This diamond anniversary year is an important time for the Commonwealth to look back – and, more importantly, look forward. In doing so, I believe we can be pleased with how far the Commonwealth has come in its 60years, and yet how true it has remained to its origins.  But this does not mean we should become complacent or rest on past successes.  Like any good organization we must continue to pay close attention to the things that give it distinctive character.