Last night, the British High Commissioner hosted a special reception for us media folk, with no working agenda but rather just to “hang out”. It was a nice opportunity to catch up with the HC and to hear from him what he has got planned for 2012. His plans are nicely summed up in his National Day address for this year:
This is British High Commissioner, Rob Fenn, with a message to mark Brunei’s National Day in 2012, a special year for the UK, and a special year for Britain’s relations with Brunei Darussalam.
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, who celebrates her Diamond Jubillee this year – the Sixtieth of her remarkable reign – has congratulated His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam and all the people of Brunei on the occasion of your National Day. Prime Minister David Cameron has written to His Majesty to do the same. And Foreign Secretary William Hague has sent his own message to His Royal Highness Prince Mohamed.
These are messages of friendship. One definition of a good friend is someone who wants us to be happy; someone who – when they are happy – want to share that happiness with us. In 2012, the UK has a lot to be happy about, and we want Brunei to feel part of all our celebrations.
The Diamond Jubilee of Her Majesty the Queen reminds us that the UK’s system of government has stood the test of time. Each year makes the world we share a little more complicated, ratcheting up our pace of life. Sometimes we feel we have to run, just to stand still. At such moments, it is a grea blessing to have a Monarch who commands respect, at home and all around the world, and whose Life of Service to humankind gives us something to celebrate and emulate. Britain and Brunei are both blessed in that way.
2012 is also the year when the Olympic and Paralympic Games are held in the UK, coming home to London, as we like to say. Sport – the fun it provides, and what it can teach us about the pursuit of excellence – is another example of the very close ties between the UK and Brunei. In both our countries, our Rulers and governments encourage us to aspire to the Olympic ideals.
I have been tremendously impressed by Brunei’s determination to galvanise people of all ages and levels of fitness, but especially the young, to promote public health and build a dynamic, inclusive and optimistic nation. At the British High Commission we are very grateful for the ways in which Brunei has included us in some of that, and allowed us to do what – as I said at the beginning – my government most wants to do; which is to make Brunei feel part of all our 2012 celebrations.
As this year unfolds, there will be many ways to do this. Some will be at the very highest level, reflecting the mutual regard of our Heads of State. Others, I hope, will involve Bruneians travelling to Britain, to see how the country you think you know so well has been transformed to welcome the world. I, for one, don’t have tickets to any of the events, but I am very much looking forward to soaking up the atmosphere. Here in Brunei too, we will stage festivities for the Diamond Jubilee and the Olympics, to help make the whole of Brunei feel part of our celebrations. Just as you, on 23 February, share your own National celebration with the world. Thank you, and may you all have a wonderful National Day.
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Good piece. Hope you don’t I will be linking on my FB page.
Thanks.