Officials overseeing Antigua and Barbuda's preparations for the November Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) say the landmark summit will not be derailed by the general election campaign intensifying across the country this April.
According to Antigua News Room, those managing the planning effort say the process has reached a critical stage that demands sustained focus, even as political activity ramps up nationwide.
At a recent meeting of the national Task Force, Foreign Affairs Minister E.P. Chet Greene acknowledged he will be dividing his time between campaign duties and summit oversight, while making clear that the broader planning team must maintain momentum in his absence.
To ensure continuity, Ambassador Anthony Liverpool has been appointed Special Advisor and will lead Task Force meetings when Minister Greene is unavailable. Liverpool brings relevant experience to the role, having previously played a key part in organising the 2024 Small Island Developing States Conference.
Day-to-day coordination will remain with the CHOGM Secretariat, led by Coordinator Celia Roberts-Morgan, as multiple committees continue advancing logistics and programme planning.
Organisers describe the November 1 to 4 gathering as the largest international event ever staged in Antigua and Barbuda, with heads of government and officials from across the Commonwealth expected to attend.
The programme will extend well beyond formal meetings, encompassing parallel forums dedicated to youth, women, business, and civil society, alongside other international engagements.
More than 5,000 participants are projected to attend. Officials say the sheer scale of the event leaves no margin for delays, regardless of the pressures an election season may bring.
