Hon. Ditoka Farewells Commonwealth Secretary-General Hon. Shirley Botchwey

The Minister for Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Hon. Sakiasi Ditoka, this morning farewelled the Commonwealth Secretary-General, Hon. Shirley Botchwey, at Nadi International Airport – following her successful engagements in Fiji.  The 2026 CLMM hosted by Fiji marks a milestone meeting — one of the largest and most significant to be held for the first time in the South Pacific.

Hon. Ditoka thanked Secretary-General Botchwey for the Commonwealth’s strong support and partnership in the delivery of the 2026 Commonwealth Law Ministers Meeting (CLMM), convened under the theme “Anchoring Justice in a Changing Tide: Strengthening the Rule of Law for a Resilient Future.”

He acknowledged the constructive dialogue and outcomes of the meeting, which reaffirms the shared commitment of Commonwealth member states to advance collective prosperity and addressing common challenges.

Hon. Ditoka commended the Secretary-General Botchwey for her timely visit, noting that it underscores Fiji’s solidarity with the Commonwealth and the wider Pacific region. He also wished Secretary-General a safe journey home.

Secretary-General Botchwey expressed her gratitude to Hon. Ditoka for the warm send-off and acknowledged the Fiji Government for its excellent hosting of the 2026 CLMM. She also thanked Prime Minister Hon. Sitiveni Rabuka and the people of Fiji for their warm hospitality, friendship and collaboration.

As she concluded her visit, Secretary-General Botchwey reaffirmed the Commonwealth’s commitment to further strengthen multilateral cooperation and to advancing a resilient, sustainable and just future for the people of the Commonwealth.

This visit marked Secretary-General Botchwey’s first Commonwealth ministerial meeting and her very first official engagement in the Pacific —underscoring the region’s importance within the Commonwealth family.