This year's Commonwealth summit was held in Trinidad and Tobago

The Commonwealth describes itself as "a voluntary association of 53 countries that support each other and work together towards shared goals in democracy and development."

It further states: "The Commonwealth is part of the world that it serves, sharing the same interests as those of its citizens: democratic freedom and economic and social development."

Among its membership are 12 Caribbean states.

The grouping spans the gamut of developed and developing countries; some of its member nations are in the G20 group of rich nations, some others are quite poor.

How well do you know the Commonwealth?

Has it been good for the Caribbean?

How best do you see the relationship working?

Listen again to 'The BBC Debate: Does The Commonwealth Have A Future? The debate was held in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago on Saturday 28 November.

A more unsuitable venue for discussing climate change and environmental stewardship than Trinidad & Tobago would be hard to find. Under Patrick Manning, T&T has embarked on a reckless course of industrialisation that's paid no heed to environmental sustainability. It's compromised its energy supplies for future generations by its obsession with building aluminium and steel smelters powered by its dwindling resource of natural gas. Meanwhile, Manning's government has spent 2 per cent of T&T's annual GDP on this summit and the Americas summit earlier this year, while citizens sleep in hospital corridors and crime spirals out of control. Just so he can pose with the Queen in his monstrously expensive new performing arts centre.
Mark Merediith
Auckland, New Zealand

I just got back from Trinidad and Tobago, Nov. 28, 2009. I was fortunate to witness the CHOGM. Is the Commonwealth irrelevant? The answer is no.
Any forum that allows influential leaders to get together in open and wide ranging dialogue is ultimately of great relevance. I especially commend PM Gordon Brown for his no nonsense approach, PM Stephen Harper for his quietly elegant perspective and PM Patrick Manning for taking the mantle upon himself to bring about important initiatives. God bless this group.
Dr. Franklin Ramsoomair
Waterloo, Canada

There are certainly benefits being part of the Commonwealth. It is part of our heritage and who we are. However, the government of Trinidad & Tobago has its priorities wrong and consumed by power. The wealth from this country's hydrocarbon and human resources, if managed and used as a "force for good" for every citizen, can transform this great island nation to true independence and first world status.
But, instead the government chose to spend the citizens' money in hosting two major summits this year (among many other projects) , which is typical and the will of this government to waste and squander money to feed the ego and power of just a few.
May good sense prevail
Martin Pinard
Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago

The Commonwealth is the greatest global institution!
An organization that is best at its non-political level where it does what a secretariat should do by being a conduit for directing the type of pragmatic solutions that are typical of a true family: sometimes not even working within governmental structures at all, but directly with its worldwide citizenry.
Youth development & global exchange programs, health and disability education, good governance and economic/social development- all and only a little of what this, in fact, quite small management organization seeks to (and does) achieve on a daily basis.
Thankfully not a mini-UN and never meant to be an alternative World Bank/IMF, the problem with the Commonwealth is that most of it's people only see it every two years when it's politicians meet, get on the telly and... talk.
A shame since many (especially in the smaller or poorer nations) will most certainly have contact with several Commonwealth programs on a regular basis, but because of this holistic approach the help seems to come from some other or local group so they often don't know it's their global family willingly giving them a hand!
It's not perfect and by no means equitable in its delivery; but nether is it the useless do-nothing talk-fest that the media proclaims at every CHOGM. After all to what other multinational organisation does the UN Secretary General and the PM of France come-a-knocking at the door?
Hopping Cambridge
New Zealand

While there are various opinions regarding the Commonwealth, I think it has been a benefit to small states, small island developing states and landlocked states. For the smaller countries (i.e. in the Caribbean) it is a beneficial relationship to assert their respective roles on the international stage. For the larger countries, the opposite may be true.
M Dean
Nassau, Bahamas

I do not see how this meeting is benefiting the local people of this country. The government is continuing to waste the country's resources on unnecessary projects and meetings. Almost every government body has failed in governing this country. England should once again rule this nation...
Andrea Inzaghi
Piarco, Trinidad and Tobago

The wealth is certainly not common.
Why do we bother?
Raseux
Oranjestad, St. Eustatius

Caribbean people are asking themselves the same questions that Africans in Commonwealth countries have asked. But I think its imperative that Caribbeans think strongly about the global warming and its effect on the Islands. Alongside other benefits that Commonwealth brings, the islands need a vehicle to advocate on their behalf with the G20 group.
Sid Momoh
Texas, U.S/Sierra Leone

I know the Commonwealth exists under the leadership of Queen Elizabeth, but apart from its summit and observing elections around the world, I have not seen what effect the Commonwealth has around the world.
I'm not sure how good it has been to the Caribbean, because I've not heard the Commonwealth given financial assistance to any country, or intervene in other difficult situations.
The Commonwealth should be more protective of the interests of the Caribbean on the WTO.
Clayton Florent
Baie Mahault, Guadeloupe

The Commonwealth does not have any significant bearing on the Caribbean anymore. They came to the Caribbean and they took what they could and then put sanctions on some islands. England are now crippling the main income of the Caribbean by implementing higher airport tax. They also stopped buying our produce such as bananas. Where is the support from the so called MOTHER COUNTRY? The Caribbean should completely disregard the Commonwealth and concentrate on Caricom and look after each other.
Rob Williams
England

Caribbean Holiday On Government Money (CHOGM).... that is just what this summit is... a waste of time and money with all the leaders getting a nice rested holiday in the Caribbean... we need to figure out whether the Commonwealth is an outdated institution.
Joe Singh
San Fernando, Trinidad and Tobago

The Commonwealth is at serious threat of becoming wholly irrelevant, especially for us, the people of the Caribbean. I do not know any Caribbean people who can tell me about a single concrete and measurable benefit the Commonwealth has provided for the region. So that the Commonwealth avoids becoming an anachronistic relic of colonialism, the Caribbean should firmly encourage the Commonwealth to add to its permanent mission statement, "the promotion and protection of sustainable development and ecological stewardship." The effects of climate change threaten to fundamentally alter the lives of Caribbean people in catastrophic ways. The Commonwealth should help us lead the global charge in addressing this matter of our very survival.
Anthony N Morgan
Montreal, Canada