By Sir Ronald Sanders
(The writer is Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador to the United States and the Organization of American States. He is also a Senior Fellow at the Institute of Commonwealth Studies at the University of London and Massey College in the University of Toronto. The views expressed are entirely his own)
The announcement by the President of Kenya Uhuru Kenyatta that his government has nominated the country’s energy minister, Monica Juma, for the post of Commonwealth Secretary-General, has re-opened the contention surrounding “turns” to hold the post.
However, there is no such thing as ‘turns’ in the rules of the Commonwealth. And, the concept of ‘turns’ has never been used as a criterion for proposing candidates for the job.
‘Turns’ is a contrivance utilised by governments of countries in regions of the world that have not held the post. But, the job of Secretary-General has always been open to any Commonwealth citizen qualified for the consideration by Heads of Government. Below, I set out the Secretaries-General of the Commonwealth from the inception of the job; the countries from which they came; the candidates who challenged them to demonstrate that ‘turns’ is a stratagem of recent vintage which, if slavishly followed, would deprive the Commonwealth of the best talents to carry out the vital duties of Secretary-General.
In 1965, when the Heads of Government elected the Canadian Arnold Smith as Secretary-General, there were five other contenders from Australia, New Zealand, Sierra Leone and Ceylon (now Sri Lanka).
In 1975 and again in 1980, Shridath ‘Sonny’ Ramphal of Guyana was elected unopposed, but he was unsuccessfully challenged by an Indian in 1985.
In 1990, Emeka Anyaoku of Nigeria was elected, having fended off a strong contender in Malcolm Fraser of Australia, but term limits were then limited to two; he was re-elected in 1995 when the period of a term was reduced from five to four years.
In 2000, the New Zealander, Don McKinnon, was elected but he had to fight off a challenge from Farook Sobhan of Bangladesh. In 2008, the Indian, Kamalesh Sharma, was elected but faced a strong challenge from Michael Frendo of Malta.
In 2014, the contenders were Baroness Scotland nominated by Dominica and promoted by Britain where she had been Attorney-General and continues to be a member of the British House of Lords; Mmasekgoa Masire-Mwamba of Botswana and me from Antigua and Barbuda.
The Secretary-General therefore has come from: Canada, Guyana, Nigeria, New Zealand, India, Dominica. In terms of regions and the contrivance of ‘turns’, this translates into: Canada, Caribbean, Africa, Pacific, Asia, Caribbean.
But if ‘turns’ were really the criterion, after India (Asia), it should not have been the Caribbean’s ‘turn’; it should have been the turn of Europe (either Cyprus or Malta) and if Europe gave-up its ‘turn’, it should have gone to Canada at which point the cycle should have been re-started.
However, the reality is that there is no such criterion as ‘turns’ for the job of Commonwealth Secretary-General.
And if there is, then the Caribbean jumped its turn in 2015, and it should now definitely be the turn of either Malta or Cyprus before returning to Canada. If not Europe and North America are being denied the chance of nominating candidates for the post. The idea of regional ‘turns’ is limiting and self-defeating.
Some countries in the Caribbean are insisting that it is the Caribbean’s “turn” to hold the post for two terms (eight years). Therefore, even though English Baroness Patricia Scotland was elected, ostensibly as coming from the Caribbean because she was born in Dominica which she left at the age of two, for the term 2016 to 2020, it is contended by her Caribbean supporters that she is entitled to a second term, running from April 2020 to 2024.
The story gets complicated because, the Baroness’ elected-term officially ended in April 2020, but because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Commonwealth Heads of Government could not meet to consider candidates for the term 2020 to 2024.
Consequently, the Baroness was allowed to remain in the post until such time as the election could be held. She has, therefore, not only served the term for which she was elected by a majority of one vote with several abstentions, she has also segued into a further year and six months, so far, into an unelected term.
This period has not been uncontroversial. In February 2020, Boris Johnson, who has been serving as Chair of the Commonwealth since 2019 when he was elected Prime Minister of Great Britain, stated in a letter to all Commonwealth Heads of Government that a majority of them had indicated to him rejection of a plan “to offer Lady Scotland another four years in office”. The leaders agreed only to a short three-month extension of her contract which ended on 31 March, 2020.
As it turned out, the Heads of Government meeting, slated for Rwanda in June 2020, was postponed twice, first to June 2021 and now to later this year.
The Government of Kenya now feels that, in so far as it believes ‘turns’ exist, the Caribbean has had its turn, and now it is Africa’s turn.
Significantly, African countries did not support the British Baroness at the 2015 election in Malta; they stood solidly behind the Botswana candidate, Mmasekgoa Masire-Mwamba, in the second round of voting. I was eliminated in the first round because promised African votes went to Masire-Mwamba.
In reality, the notion of ‘turns’ was never a criterion for the job, and persons are only elected for one term at a time.
The criterion for the job was – and should be – a Commonwealth citizen with a proven track record of knowledge and experience of Commonwealth affairs; a deep commitment to its values; a vision of the role it can play in effectively serving the interests of each of its 54 states, especially its 32 small members; and advancing the Commonwealth as a force for good in global affairs.
There should be a contest for the post, and outstanding candidates from anywhere in the Commonwealth should contend without restriction.
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I knew sour grapes would refute the dictator. Two narcissist can’t live in one hole. Ran Singh, Ron Sanders, whatever you name, you can’t get over the fact that the Baroness beat you. She smarter than you and the fact that you were rejected and she won almost killed you. Now you can’t wait to see the back of her so you can sleep again. What goes around, comes around. Don’t matter how old you are, “wha na meet you, na pass you yet.” Your turn coming.
Notes From A Native Son Of The Rock! “Come, then, comrades; it would be as well to decide at once to change our ways. We must shake off the heavy darkness in which we were plunged, and leave it behind. The new day which is already at hand must find us firm,
prudent, and resolute. We must leave our dreams and abandon our old beliefs and friendships from the time before life began. Let us waste no time in sterile litanies and nauseating mimicry. Leave this Europe where they are never done talking of Man, yet murder men everywhere they find them, at the comer of every one of their own streets, in all the corners of the globe. For centuries they have stifled almost the whole of humanity in the name of a so-called spiritual experience. Look at them today swaying between atomic
and spiritual disintegration.” – Frantz Fanon, The Wretched Of The Earth!
First, let me concede to the thesis of this Article, “there is no such thing as ‘turns’ in the rules of the Commonwealth. And, the concept of ‘turns’ has never been used as a criterion for proposing candidates for the job.” – Ronald Sanders!
Having made that concession, Full Disclosure: This mere voice in the wilderness did not support either the Nomination, Candidacy, Election or Appointment of English Baroness Patricia Scotland as Secretary General of the Commonwealth! “The colonized is elevated above his jungle status in proportion to his adoption of the mother country’s cultural standards.” ― Frantz Fanon, Black Skin, White Masks!
Her candidacy, notwithstanding all of the protestations, was advanced by The British Crown and the British Government to serve the interest of the Royal Family of Elizabeth and her heirs! Elizabeth could not continue in perpetuity! Charles was not appreciated in the Commonwealth! There were efforts to end the Royal leadership of the Commonwealth Heads of Government! The North Atlantics in Australia, Canada and New Zealand were making noises of changing their Ceremonial Government Structures and Head of Government!
“The Afrocentric method seeks to uncover the masks behind the rhetoric of power, privilege, and position in order to establish how principal myths create place. The method enthrones critical reflection that reveals the perception of monolithic power as nothing but the projection of a cadre of adventurers.” – Dr. Molefi Asante, Afrocentricity: The theory of Social Change!
The Firm and Downing Street developed the stratagem! First Tactical initiative was the marriage of William to Kate of Australia! All talk of rebellion by the North Atlantics ended! Second Initiative was to secure the Secretary General Position of the Commonwealth!
Enter the Baroness! She of African Descent and navel string buried deep in the Caribbean Archipelago! She was born in Dominica! Her father was from Antigua and Barbuda! She was the first Black Woman Lawyer to be appointed a Queen Counsel in Britain! She was made a Life Peer serving in the House of Lords! She had a stellar political and professional career as Parliamentary Secretary, Member of the Privy Council, Minister of State and Attorney General of the British Government! Years before any other contender even thought of engaging the Commonwealth, Scotland hit the TED circuit to buttress her Bona Fides as a Caribbean Contender from Dominica with paternal roots from Antigua! Most Caribbean Nations like fish around their shores “took the bait hook line and sinker!” It was Sham from Beginning to End!
Ron Sanders’ Candidacy, the touted front runner from Antigua and Barbuda, was buffeted by the storms of neocolonialism and imperialism, given his stated objectives to follow in the footsteps of his countryman and relative Shridath Surendranath Ramphal and to implement the Governance recommendations of the Eminent Persons Group: “examining the options for reform that would bring the Commonwealth’s institutions into stronger
and more effective framework of co-operation and partnerships.” and floundered on the North Atlantic Rocks of Alternative Facts and Fake News!
The other Candidate of True African Descent, Madame Mmasekgoa Masire-Mwamba, then Deputy Secretary General of the Commonwealth from Botswana received no support from the Caribbean, the North Atlantics or the Asian Pacifics!
“LADY MACBETH That which hath made them drunk hath made me bold; What hath quench’d them hath given me fire. … The doors are open; and the surfeited grooms Do mock their charge with snores: I have drugg’d their possets, That death and nature do contend about them, Whether they live or die.” Shakespeare, Macbeth! With Baroness Patricia Scotland becoming Secretary General, The British Crown preserved its position as Head of CHOGM! Charles and William, unlike Henry IV who lived ‘uneasy is the head that wears a crown’, could now rest easy! The House of Windsor of Germanic Ancestry had secured allegiance and the Head of CHOGM to Elizabeth and her Heirs!
Within a year of her term the British Crown and Government had had enough of the Baroness and her so called profligacy and lavish lifestyles! Rumours and innuendo’s plagued her administration crippling her! Had it not been for the Pandemic, she would have been long gone and not a day too soon! “MACBETH I have done the deed. Didst thou not hear a noise? LADY MACBETH I heard the owl scream and the crickets cry.” The English speaking Caribbean Heads of Government are weeping and wailing having forgotten that “The native must realize that colonialism never gives anything away for nothing. … If we wish to live up to our peoples’ expectations, we must seek the response elsewhere than in Europe. ― Frantz Fanon, The Wretched of the Earth! They got snookered as the Brits would say!
“One of the key assumptions of the Afrocentrist is that all relationships are based on centers and margins and the distances from either the center or the margin. When black people view themselves as centered and central in their own history then they see themselves as agents, actors, and participants rather than as marginals on the periphery of political or economic experience. Using this paradigm, human beings have discovered that all phenomena are expressed in the fundamental categories of space and time. Furthermore, it is then understood that relationships develop and knowledge increases to the extent we are able to appreciate the issues of space and time.” – Asante!
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