Foreign Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell has called on regional heads to encourage, empower and support young Bahamians as well as those throughout the Caribbean and the Commonwealth.

Minister Mitchell made the request yesterday while addressing Commonwealth ministers attending the pre-Caribbean Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) at the Sirimavo Bandaranaike Memorial Exhibition Centre (SBMEC) in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

The meeting was chaired by Sri Lanka’s Minister of External Affairs, Professor G L Pei ris.

At that meeting, ministers considered the CHOGM 2013 theme ‘Growth with Equity: Inclusive Development’ and reviewed political, economic and social issues of global and Commonwealth interest.

The group is expected to continue its work today to finalise the draft CHOGM Communiqué for consideration by Heads of Government later in the week.

They will also review reports for transmittal to Heads of Government and receive reports from Commonwealth Inter-governmental Organisations and the parallel forums held in the margins of CHOGM including the Commonwealth Youth Forum; the Commonwealth Business Forum; and the Commonwealth People’s Forum.

Commonwealth Heads of Government will meet in Colombo from November 15 – 17.

Prime Minister Perry Christie is expected to attend that meeting.