UGANDA: Kamalesh Sharma announced as new Secretary-General of the Commonwealth as British Royal family end up their visit to Uganda.

The Commonwealth announces Kamalesh Sharma as the new Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, as British royals wind up their visit to Uganda. The Commonwealth announced on Saturday (November 24) the selection of a new Commonwealth Secretary-General, Kamalesh Sharma. Speaking at a Commonwealth retreat outside of Kampala, current Commonwealth Secretary-General, Don McKinnon said, "The heads of government, at the retreat, have unanimously selected the candidate for my job, his excellency Kamalesh Sharma, currently the High Commissioner for India and I know he is looking forward to taking over this job April 1 next year." The selection of Sharma was a unanimous decision by Commonwealth leaders. Addressing journalists, Sharma said, "Thank you very much Don. We have been working together on Commonwealth affairs for a long time and I look forward to a thorough briefing from you as to how we can carry the outstanding work done by you forward. " Sharma is currently Indian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom. He will take over from McKinnon on April 1, 2008. The organisation's new Secretary-General, said climate change would be one of his top concerns, alongside efforts to promote development, and on ways to engage youth. He said today's youth was crucial to finding ways to tackle the century's looming challenges. "The future of this century very clearly belongs to the youth. This century I feel is perhaps the most fateful century for human kind because the answers that were posed to us will have to be answered in the course of it." He also said he was confident that the Commonwealth would use the meeting in Kampala to conclude a constructive agreement on how to tackle climate change. The Commonwealth's members represent 1.8 billion people, or more than a quarter of the world's population. Sharma beat Maltese Foreign Minister Michael Frendo to the job. The leadership of the Commonwealth changes every two years at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) but the Secretary-General can retain the position for several consecutive CHOGM's. The head of the Commonwealth is the British Monarch, but there are some questions over whether the title will pass on to Prince Charles. Prince Charles is attending the current CHOGM at the invitation of the Queen. Before attending the CHOGM functions, the Prince was taken to a slum a few miles away from where the dignitaries will dine tonight. Kawempe is home to around 300,000 people, most of who have to survive on the equivalent of 1.00 (US) a day. The slum is one of Uganda's most crowded, with more than 9,000 people living on each square kilometre. Around one in 10 residents are HIV positive. Prince Charles was taken to the Kampala Kids League project. Set up in the late 1990s it gives all children, including those living in the slum, an opportunity to play sports. On a tour of the facilities, the Prince impressed staff and children with his own foot skills. A firmly-struck penalty from the Prince's right foot sailed into the back of the net off the inside of the post. A second attempt aimed straight at the keeper, however, fared less well. Meanwhile, the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh's wound up their state visit to Uganda with a trip to a primary school. The royal couple toured the Kitante School and meet children and staff, then watched a performance by pupils. Then the Monarch unveiled a plaque to commemorate her visit. The Queen and Duke have spent the last three days on a state visit to the country they last visited in 1954. During the Queen's opening speech to Commonwealth leaders she called on them to harness the "optimism and enthusiasm" of the young to help resolve global challenges. Her comments were made after Pakistan was suspended from the Commonwealth on Thursday "pending restoration of democracy and rule of law" by the country's leader President Pervez Musharraf.

ITN Source | November 24, 2007

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