Events to celebrate the annual Commonwealth Day took place all over the world late Monday with the British Consulate in Jeddah hosting a dinner at the consulate’s premises.
It was the first time an event was organized in the Kingdom’s Western region to commemorate the Commonwealth Day, which is celebrated annually on the second Monday of March. Several consuls general from other Commonwealth countries, including from Ghana, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Singapore and Brunei, attended the dinner.
“Commonwealth Day is an opportunity for the 54 Commonwealth countries with a total population of 2 billion to come together, remember that we’ve got a Commonwealth, and take it forward,” said Mohammed Shokat, the British consul general.
He stressed that the Commonwealth of Nations, an intergovernmental organization, is a family, but is not restricted to countries that have a historical relationship with the British Empire. Mozambique and Rwanda, which both joined in 2009, were never part of the empire. They joined for the benefits, according to the consul.
“Our aim is to work together as a family to spread democratic values, freedom of expression and speech and equal opportunities for all. So, it’s just an opportunity for all these countries to work together and achieve common goals,” Shokat said.
The idea to celebrate Commonwealth Day in Jeddah came from Paul Surtees, founder of the Royal Over-Seas League Hong Kong Branch, a non-profit pan-Commonwealth club that seeks to enhance international understanding and increase international friendship. The plan is to organize celebrations every year at a different consulate and make it a larger event.
“The idea of the Commonwealth is to bring countries together in a friendly way,” Surtees said.
M. Habib Idris, the consul general of Ghana, stressed the importance of the many programs under the Commonwealth, including educational and trade, which benefit his country. “The Commonwealth helps facilitate the relationship between Ghana and the UK,” Idris said.
During his speech, Consul General Shokat read the Commonwealth Day message of Queen Elisabeth II, who is also the head of the organization, which focused on equality and opportunities through ambition and courage. This related to the Commonwealth Day 2013 theme of “Opportunity through Enterprise.”
The consul general of India, Faiz Ahmad Kidwai, subsequently read the message of Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma, which also spoke about the opportunities that can be created by working together and using the talents of all, particularly the youth, to build a more equitable and inclusive future.
Commonwealth Day celebrated for first time in Western region
