Hon Crenston Buffonge and Hon Dorsette-Hector Celebrate Commonwealth Day In London

Minister for Agriculture Agriculture, Lands, Housing and the Environment, Honourable Crenston Buffonge and Parliamentary Secretary, Honourable Veronica Dorsette-Hector are representing Montserrat at the House of Commons celebration of Commonwealth Day in London.

Commonwealth Day on Monday 13 March, 2023, marked the beginning of a week-long series of events and activities happening around the globe – including faith and civic gatherings, debates, school assemblies, flag-raising ceremonies and cultural events.

Commonwealth Day 2023 marks the tenth anniversary of the signing of the Commonwealth Charter, which was signed by Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on 11 March 2013.

This is the first Commonwealth Day since Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth 11’s passing, and the first presided over by His Majesty King Charles III as King and Head of the Commonwealth. The theme for Commonwealth Day 2023 is ‘Forging a sustainable and peaceful common future’.

The theme combines the active commitment of member states to support the promotion of peace, prosperity and sustainability, especially through climate action, so as to secure a better future for our young people and improve the lives of all Commonwealth citizens. In London, Commonwealth Day 2023 was celebrated with a multicultural, multi-faith service held at Westminster Abbey which featured a procession of young flag bearers representing each of the 56 nations of the Commonwealth, as well as a wreath-laying ceremony at the Commonwealth Memorial Gates, and a flag-raising event for the Commonwealth Flag for Peace.

The event was broadcast live from Westminster Abbey on BBC One, in the programme: 'A Service of Celebration for Commonwealth Day.'

In her Commonwealth Day Message, the Commonwealth Secretary-General, the Rt Hon Patricia Scotland KC, paid tribute to Her late Majesty The Queen for her seven decades of service and welcomed His Majesty The King for his first Commonwealth Day as the new Head of the Commonwealth.