Sir Rodney and Lady Williams join RCS Global Meeting

Their Excellencies Sir Rodney and Lady Williams have recently returned home after representing Antigua and Barbuda at the Royal Commonwealth Society (RCS) Global Meeting held in Alberta, Canada. The conference was organized with the invaluable assistance of Edmonton RCS President Mr. Ian Havin and team.As Patron and President of the Antigua and Barbuda RCS respectively, Their Excellencies participated in the 4-day conference which covered a vast array of topics, including the strengthening of the international branch of the organization. Participation in the event was primarily self-funded.

Sir Rodney expanded on the topic of the upcoming CHOGM to be held in Antigua from November 1-4, as most of the participants present had already applied for accreditation and are making plans to be in attendance.

The Caribbean RCS team commenced its regional planning and organization during the Alberta meeting, and President H.E. Lady Williams was thanked for her initiative and assistance by the Chairperson of the RCS UK branch , Ms. Janet Cooper, who joined the meeting remotely.

Lady Williams mentioned, “There are clear synergies amongst the activities of the Caribbean nations, and moving forward, we will be working closely together to achieve our goals. Dame Sandra Mason (President) and Mrs Cheryll Belle (Vice President) of the Barbados RCS are quite easily the most experienced, as well as the longest serving executives in the Caribbean. Our plans to strengthen both the benefits and outreach of our regional branch, which is now in the initial stages of formation, will soon be publicly articulated. We look forward to being of greater service to our nations”.

The RCS Antigua and Barbuda branch had chosen to focus primarily on the environment, and will continue to perform in this vein, while extending more emphatically into other areas of operation.

Her Excellency Lady Williams revealed that , in partnership with the Hong Kong Branch, the RCS global executive will be networking soon again at a cocktail party to be hosted at the Galley Bay Hotel in early November. “It is quite a boost for Antigua and Barbuda “, she continued. “Many of the delegates will be staying in local family owned modest accommodation. So it can be only good news financially for the population “.While in Alberta , Their Excellencies were invited to have tea and discussions with RCS Alberta Patron Lieutenant Governor of Alberta, the Hon Salma Lakhani and her husband Dr. Zaheer Lakhani , a prominent cardiologist.

The Patron of the RCS (Global ) is His Majesty King Charles ll, while the Patron of the annual Queen’s Essay Competition is Her Majesty Queen Camilla. Prizes include trips to London for students who enter and win the competition.

              

Photo captions .
H.E.Lady Williams at the conference table
L-R: H.E. Lady Williams , H.E.Sir Rodney Williams, Hon. Salma Lakhani and Dr. Zaheer Lakhani.
H.E. Sir Rodney Williams
Female indigenous Indian performance
Male indigenous Indian performance