National CHOGM Taskforce and Commonwealth Secretariat Convene Joint Meeting to Advance Preparations for CHOGM 2026

St. John’s, Antigua and Barbuda – The Government of Antigua and Barbuda’s National
Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) Taskforce today held a
productive joint meeting with representatives of the Commonwealth Secretariat to provide
a comprehensive update on preparations for the upcoming Commonwealth Heads of
Government Meeting 2026.

The meeting was chaired by Her Excellency Karen-Mae Hill, High Commissioner of
Antigua and Barbuda to the United Kingdom and CHOGM Focal Point, on behalf of the
Chairman of the CHOGM Taskforce, the Honourable E.P. Chet Greene, Chairman of the
CHOGM Taskforce. The session was attended by senior officials, including Mrs AnnMarie Layne, Director General, and Ms Sharon Stevens, Permanent Secretary within the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Barbuda Affairs, reflecting the high-level
coordination and whole-of-government approach to CHOGM preparations.

The meeting focused primarily on planning for the forthcoming Advance Visits scheduled
for 28th – 29th April and 5th – 6th May 2026 in St. John’s. These visits will bring delegations
from across the Commonwealth to Antigua and Barbuda to assess logistics and
operational readiness in advance of the Heads of Government Meeting in November
2026.

During the session, the National CHOGM Taskforce provided detailed briefings on the
proposed agenda and structure of the Advance Visits, including site inspections of key
venues and coordination mechanisms for visiting delegations. Updates were also shared
on accommodation arrangements, with emphasis on block bookings, delegate
experience, and coordination protocols, as well as ongoing efforts in communications and
media planning to ensure effective dissemination of information and global visibility for
CHOGM 2026.