As the Caribbean twin-island nation of Antigua and Barbuda counts down to one of the most significant international gatherings in its modern history, Foreign Affairs Minister and national task force chair E.P. Chet Greene has formally announced that the country is fully prepared to welcome the 2025 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), scheduled to run from November 1 to 4.
With registration for the event set to close this week, more than 11,000 accredited delegates and attendees are currently in the final stages of security clearance, marking this summit as the largest cross-border gathering ever hosted by Antigua and Barbuda. In an op-ed published in the October 18 edition of St. Paul’s Weekly, Greene emphasized that the massive undertaking of preparing for the summit has been a collective effort, bringing together public servants, national security teams, public health workers, protocol specialists, thousands of local volunteers, and coordination support from both regional and international partners.
“The work has been relentless, the deadlines unforgiving and the stakes immense. Notwithstanding, we are ready,” Greene wrote in his address to the nation.
This year’s summit will bring together heads of state and government from across the 56-nation Commonwealth bloc to tackle a diverse slate of pressing global and regional priorities. Key agenda items include scaled-up climate finance for vulnerable small island developing states, a just global energy transition, expanded access to digital technology for inclusive development, and coordinated action to advance equitable international development. A prominent, long-awaited topic on the discussion schedule is reparatory justice for the transatlantic trade in enslaved Africans, a topic that Caribbean nations have long pushed to the forefront of Commonwealth dialogue.
Greene stressed that the bloc cannot credibly advance shared prosperity across its member states without directly confronting the deep structural inequalities that trace their origins to historical colonial exploitation. He called for open, honest and serious engagement with this shared history during the summit’s deliberations, and pushed for a final outcome document that delivers a tangible, actionable framework for cross-nation partnerships, links global investment to inclusive growth, and formally recognizes climate vulnerability as a core economic challenge facing small island states like Antigua and Barbuda.
In a notable development, Greene confirmed that King Charles III, the head of the Commonwealth, and Queen Camilla will attend the summit. He shared his expectation that the relationship between the British monarchy and Caribbean Commonwealth nations will evolve to better align with the needs and aspirations of people across the region.
Beyond high-level formal policy discussions, the summit’s full program is designed to shine a global spotlight on Antigua and Barbuda’s unique cultural heritage, natural beauty and growing creative economy. One key legacy infrastructure project highlighted by Greene is the new National Performing Arts Centre, which was redeveloped from the historic Deluxe Cinema. The 900-seat venue will host key cultural events during the summit and will serve the country’s creative industries for decades after international delegations depart.
Other scheduled public and cultural events include the national Independence Ceremonial Parade held at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, an exhibition cricket match that will pair Caribbean and African leaders with legendary cricketers, and a headlining concert from acclaimed Jamaican reggae artist Tarrus Riley. Greene shared that the exhibition match will open with an unexpected batting pair: West Indies cricket legend Sir Vivian Richards himself, and Antigua and Barbuda’s Prime Minister Gaston Browne.
To highlight the unity of the twin-island nation and draw attention to Barbuda’s unique experience with climate vulnerability, a portion of the summit’s activities will be held on the smaller sister island. The summit’s official closing ceremony will take place at Nelson’s Dockyard, Antigua’s iconic UNESCO World Heritage Site.
As final preparations enter the home stretch, Greene called on local businesses and communities across the country to step into their roles as hosts. He urged hotels, guesthouses, short-term rental hosts, taxi operators, restaurants, souvenir vendors and other service providers to complete their final preparations to welcome visitors. Framing the summit as a shared national achievement rather than an exclusive government initiative, Greene encouraged every resident to see themselves as an ambassador for the country. Simple acts, he noted—from keeping public spaces clean to conducting fair, honest transactions and offering warm hospitality—will showcase Antigua and Barbuda’s capability to host a major global event and leave a lasting positive impression on all attendees.