Baroness Scotland mounts stout defence of stewardship as Commonwealth Secretary-General

Commonwealth Secretary General Baroness Patricia Scotland has hit back at her critics ahead of  a challenge to her leadership later this week during the Heads of  Government Meeting in Kigali, Rwanda

 

Baroness Scotland is being challenged for the post by Jamaica's Foreign Affairs Minister Kamina Johnson Smith and Sir Lakoba Italeli of  Tuvalu.

 

Baroness Scotland told Britain's The Voice newspaper that the campaign against her was divisive and based on lies, with the opposition led by UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

 

She called for her critics to contribute positively to the Commonwealth or get out of  her way.

 

Last month, Mr. Johnson expressed Britain's support for Jamaica's candidate.

 

Baroness Scotland told The Voice she remained focused on delivering for the 2.5 billion people in Commonwealth countries, and was proud of  her record.

 

Born in Dominica of Dominican and Antiguan parentage, Baroness Scotland grew up in the UK and served in the Labour Party of Government there before taking up her post with the Commonwealth Secretariat. She has received the declared backing of her birth country and Antigua-Barbuda, while some other CARICOM states have so far refrained from declaring their choice for the upcoming election.

 

Mrs Johnson Smith, who arrived in Kigali on Monday for the Commonwealth Heads of  Government Meeting, has also received support from India, The Maldives, Singapore, Belize and Trinidad & Tobago.

 

She has expressed confidence that she will come out on top.