Winning the war on crime as well as illegal drug and human trafficking and terrorism are issues that would be ’addressed more thoroughly outside’ of the 2009 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Port of Spain, says British Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

The CHOGM agenda, in fact, was dominated by the issue of climate change.

Brown outlined his administration’s position on key issues in response to questions submitted by Express chief political reporter Juhel Browne to No 10 Downing Street in London through the British High Commission in Port of Spain.

Q: Is Prime Minister Gordon Brown

satisfied that the Commonwealth

still holds the influence and relevance

needed to have an impact on key

issues such as climate change, crime,

terrorism, illegal drug trafficking, human trafficking, developmental challenges

and economic challenges affecting its

member states and the rest of the world?

A: Yes, I firmly believe the Commonwealth still holds influence and relevance across many of the key issues facing the world. Its members include a quarter of the G20 and more than half of the G77. It’s responsible for a fifth of global trade. Our collective opinion is respected across the world.

But like any international organisation, the Commonwealth must evolve to remain relevant. In Port of Spain this year, we have a real opportunity to demonstrate such relevance by agreeing to a strong statement on climate change-something made more significant given the Copenhagen summit in December.

But we also need to recognise that there are other international organisations that focus specifically on issues that the Commonwealth need not duplicate. And bilateral cooperation between the UK and the Caribbean is important, too. Through such cooperation, we can support growth and economic prosperity, tackle the harm to the region and to the UK from drugs and crime, and promote good governance and human rights.

Our Regional Development Programme in the Caribbean-of around £13 million ($135m) per year-aims to cut poverty by boosting economic growth and reducing the risks to growth. But this is only a fraction of the UK’s total support to the region. We provide some £70 million ($730m) per year in development support, mainly through contributions to the World Bank and EC as well as international NGOs and global funds.

What are your expectations for the

outcome of CHOGM 2009 regarding

the issues of climate change, crime,

terrorism, illegal drug trafficking, human trafficking, development challenges and economic challenges that

Commonwealth member

states are now facing?

We need a strong message from the Commonwealth on the dangers of letting climate change continue unchecked. The environmental and financial risks to the Caribbean of not doing so are enormous. Sea-level rises are expected to threaten vital infrastructure, settlements and facilities that support the livelihood of island communities. The annual economic damage caused by climate change in the Caribbean is estimated to reach US$11 billion ($70b) by 2080.

Tackling crime, terrorism, drug and people trafficking as well as development and economic challenges are priorities, too, although these will be addressed more thoroughly outside of CHOGM.

Is the British Government

satisfied with this country’s

efforts to address climate

change since it is hosting

CHOGM, during which the

issue is to be a main item

on the event’s agenda?

The people of Trinidad and Tobago should be proud of the prominence that climate change has at CHOGM this year. Indeed, a strong message from the Commonwealth on the dangers of climate change can create the momentum needed for a global response at Copenhagen next month.

And it’s urgent that we act now-what happens to our environment has serious social, political and economic ramifications. For instance, in the last 30 years, coral reef cover in the Caribbean has fallen by 80 per cent. The impact that a continued decline would have on the tourist industry in the region could be disastrous.

How would you define the United Kingdom’s relationship with small island states within the Commonwealth such as Trinidad and Tobago?

For a start, there are strong links between our people. We value the enormous contribution that the Caribbean community has made to the UK over the last 60 years. Members of this community can be found today in all walks of life, including government, business, education, health and the armed forces. They are a vital bridge between the UK and the Caribbean. We are proud of the ministers of Caribbean heritage in my government, including Dawn Butler MP, David Lammy MP and Baroness Scotland. And of Baroness Amos, now our High Commissioner to Australia.

At a government level, we have close relations with all the Commonwealth Caribbean countries and continue to be heavily engaged in the region. We are working closely with governments to support growth and economic prosperity, to address climate change, to tackle the harm to the region and to the UK from drugs and crime, and promote good governance and human rights.

The UK is also committed to the small Commonwealth island states in the Pacific region. We have regular ministerial participation in the Pacific Island Forum and contribute significantly through the EU and the UNDP to development programmes.

Do you, Mr Prime Minister, who have also been a former chancellor of the

exchequer and a well-respected

economic expert, believe that CHOGM would provide an ideal opportunity to discuss international financial-system reforms, given the impact of the most recent global economic meltdown?

I know the Commonwealth finance ministers looked at these very issues in Cyprus last month. And I expect that CHOGM will present an excellent opportunity to continue these discussions. The diverse membership of the Commonwealth, where every stage of economic development is represented, gives us a unique perspective on the importance of reforming the international financial system.

Is the Commonwealth meeting the needs of its member states as

defined by its charter?

This year marks the 60th year of the modern Commonwealth. We should all be proud of our achievements over the past decades. Yet for any international institution to meet the needs of its member states, it must be committed to reform. This year presents the Commonwealth with the ideal opportunity to continue its reform, such as through revitalising the Harare declaration. This will help ensure all Commonwealth countries continue to benefit from this vibrant and unique Commonwealth of Nations.