Press Statement
Hon. Roosevelt Skerritt
Prime Minister, Dominica
“It was with delight that I received word from H.E. President Charles Savarin, who so expertly and diplomatically piloted Baroness Patricia Scotland’s candidature through the selection process in Malta on our country’s behalf, that Baroness Scotland was today chosen as the 6th Secretary General of the Commonwealth.
I congratulate Patricia Scotland on her achievement of being the first woman to be elected to this position, and for the honour she has brought to Dominica and the Caribbean as a whole. She follows in the footsteps of worthy holders of the position, including another Caribbean luminary, Sir Shridath Ramphal and we are confident that she will admirably acquit herself of her responsibility to the Commonwealth as it faces the harsh realities of the 21st century.
I remain tremendously proud of Patricia Scotland who throughout her life has shown herself to be a change-maker and an implementor. Her campaign for the past two years has demonstrated her ability to make things happen. With few financial resources and a small team, she has been able to present her vision of a re-vitalised and reformed Commonwealth to governments, civil society and the private sector, and to listen to their aspirations for a more vibrant Commonwealth.”