Tonga Welcomes Commonwealth Secretary-General, Rt. Hon. Patricia Scotland KC
Tonga is set to host the esteemed Commonwealth Secretary-General, the Rt. Hon. Patricia Scotland KC, marking her inaugural official visit to the Kingdom. Scheduled to arrive on March 30th, she will in Tonga to April 3rd, 2024, her visit holds significant promise for Tonga’s engagement with the Commonwealth.
During her stay, the Rt. Hon. Patricia Scotland will engage in a series of key meetings, including discussions with Prime Minister Hon. Hu’akavameiliku and various Government Cabinet Ministers. These dialogues will centre on the upcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) and potential technical cooperation initiatives that could greatly benefit Tonga’s enduring ties with the Commonwealth.
Notably, as the first woman to have been appointed Secretary-General of the Commonwealth of Nations, the Rt. Hon. Patricia Scotland will also embark on visits to sites and communities affected by the 2022 Hunga-Tonga Hunga Ha’apai volcanic eruption and tsunami. This firsthand experience aims to deepen her understanding of the challenges posed by these calamities.
In addition to these engagements, the Secretary-General will provide updates on a range of Commonwealth programs designed to bolster member countries’ democratic institutions, foster resilient economies, and advance environmental protection efforts. Her itinerary will also feature interactions with non-governmental organizations and civil society representatives.
The Rt. Hon. Patricia Scotland’s illustrious career includes ground-breaking achievements. She was the first woman to serve as Her late Majesty’s Attorney General’s Office for England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. A graduate with an LLB degree (honours) from the University of London, she made history as the first black woman appointed as a Queen’s Counsel in 1991. Her legacy continued with her appointment to the House of Lords as Baroness Scotland of Asthal in 1997, where she served in various capacities including Minister in the Foreign Office, the Home Office, and the Lord Chancellor’s Department. Notably, she was appointed Attorney General in 2007, Prime Ministerial Trade Envoy to South Africa in 2012, and elected as the Alderman of Bishopsgate in the City of London in 2014.
