NEWS COMMENTARY
THE COMMONWEALTH AND THE DEVELOPING WORLD
By Austeen Elewodalu
On the second Monday of March every year, Commonwealth
countries celebrate what has become known globally as the
Commonwealth Day. The Commonwealth is an intergovernmental
organization in which its members are accorded equal status,
regardless of their size, diverse social, political and economic
backgrounds.
This year, the Commonwealth Day was commemorated last Monday,
March 8. Essentially, Commonwealth Day seeks to promote
understanding on global issues, international co-operation, and
to seek the improvement of its one point eight billion citizens
scattered across the globe.
This year’s Commonwealth Day was celebrated under the theme: "Science,
Technology and Society". The theme could not have come at a
better time. This is because science and technology play a
pivotal role in a society’s search for improved quality of life.
It has become evident that the quality of life in any society is
fashioned by science and technology through scientific
discoveries and technological inventions. Undoubtedly, Science
and Technology has greatly influenced society. It is through
scientific research and technological advancement that man is
better able to adapt to his environment. Indeed, science has
changed the world in ways unimaginable.
Scientific research has provided the opportunity to tackle many
of the world’s problems, such as energy consumption, food
shortage, disease, poverty and environmental concerns to mention
a few.
The Commonwealth should focus attention on some of the disease
and health challenges that have become intractable by some of
its poor members. Many countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, Asia and
South Pacific have continued to be ravaged by HIV/AIDS and high
prevalence rates of maternal and infant mortality and morbidity.
It has therefore become imperative for the Commonwealth to, as a
matter of urgency, deliver on its promise to strengthen the
delivery of health care in its member countries by supporting
the development and implementation of national and regional
policies and strategies.
Science and technology should also be applied to the crippling
food crisis confronting some of its members particularly in
parts of Africa and Asia.
The Commonwealth should assist such members to, not only boost
their capacity in food production and preservation through
mechanized agriculture, but also support them to achieve food
security.
The current yawning digital divide between the developed
economies and those of developing countries in the Commonwealth
is another critical aspect of science and technology that the
Commonwealth must take practical steps to bridge.
This could be done through deliberate steps by the organization
to make access to the internet more affordable to majority of
the Commonwealth citizens. Unless this is done the divide will
only get wider.
In her message to commemorate the day, the Queen of England, who
is also the Head of the Commonwealth, Queen Elizabeth the
Second, acknowledged the critical role telecommunications could
play in growing the economies of developing countries in the
Commonwealth, as well as their inability to afford them, but
failed to make any commitment or proffer solution on how to
reverse the trend.
The Head of the Commonwealth also underscored the need for the
organization to fully support youngsters in the Commonwealth to
strengthen their exceptional scientific potentials through
education and social development.
If any meaningful achievement is to be recorded, the
Commonwealth must go beyond rhetoric and lip service by
demonstrating more commitment to improving the quality of lives
of its over one point eight billion citizens around the world.
