Leaders at the 2026 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting have urged member countries to strengthen governance and build stronger cooperation to improve service delivery and promote development.

The call was made on Monday, November 2, at joint forum discussions in St John’s, Antigua, and Barbuda.

Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness said the major obstacle to development was not a lack of funding but the capacity of governments and institutions to provide effective services.

Mr Holness said governments must now treat efficiency as a resource as citizens continue to seek faster, more responsive public services. 

“The aim of the game now is delivery. How fast can governments deliver benefits to their electorate?” he said.

He identified technology and artificial intelligence as tools that could enhance government efficiency while stressing that fairness and equal access to public services must remain central.

Samoa’s Deputy Prime Minister Mulipola Anarosa Ale-Molio’o also said the Commonwealth’s strength depended on its people, relationships, and collective responsibility among member countries. 

She described the organisation as an extended family whose members must work together to achieve common goals and take collective responsibility for their shared progress.

“The value is not in the house or the infrastructure, but in the people and the relationships they build within it,” she said.

Ms Ale-Molio’o further said the collective strength of Commonwealth member countries remained their greatest advantage.

The discussions are expected to continue through the various forums, where delegates will make recommendations for consideration by Commonwealth leaders.