The
53-strong CommonWEALTH nations with a combined population of 2.2 billion,
comprising one-third of humanity with a projected trade of US$2.75 trillion by
2030, is well placed to drive this development.
A project to record the oral history of the commonwealth (www.commonwealthoralhistories.org) clearly
shows the significant role that Commonwealth’s leaders have played in
destroying Aparthied – a system of legally-enforced racial segregation
implemented and upheld by the National Party in South Africa from 1948-1994.
The Commonwealth can play an equally important role in contributing to
world peace today.
We all agree that extraordinary events in the world today requires
extraordinary measures. One area of the
world where extraordinary measures are required is the Middle East.
The matter of the state-less Palestine remains an unresolved, burning issue
and the source, perhaps one of the root causes, of instability in the
region. Yet Palestine, a former British
colony, shares a common language and history with Commonwealth States. It is time that the voluntary organisation
making up 53 member states reach out to the 54th State – an action
that could certainly change the course of history.
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| Dr. Auliana Poon facilitates workshop for the development of the National Export Strategy - Financial Services for Palestine, February 2013 |
The Commonwealth can be a force for peace. The Commonwealth should reach out to
Palestine and offer a platform, a home, and a community in which issues can be
discussed and resolved. It is one thing
to be poor and homeless. But to be
stateless is a tragedy. Resolution of
conflict through rational negotiations is a preferred to war and terrorism.
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| Form left to right: Ms. Nour Mani (Paltrade), Mohammad Assaf (a well-known Palestinian pop singer and winner of Arab Idol and Goodwill Ambassador for Peace), Dr. Auliana Poon (Managing Director of Tourism Intelligence International, Ms. Meyadeh Diab (PalTrade) |
Membership in the Commonwealth of Nations requires all its members, old and
new, to abide by certain political principles, including democracy and respect
for human rights, according to the Harare principles. And although
Palestine may not yet qualify, the Commonwealth of Nations could implement an
innovative, interim vehicle that could be established to facilitate progress
along these lines. Indeed, the
Commonwealth has demonstrated some level of flexibility and innovation when it
facilitated the 1995 accession of Mozambique, which at the time, was
the only member that was never part of the British
Empire. Mozambique’s membership was made possible by the Edinburgh criteria. Perhaps it is time to make an extraordinary
exception to Palestine.
Dr. Auliana Poon, Tourism Intelligence International, Trinidad and
Tobago, November 30, 2015.
