Georgetown: The 16th biennial regional conference of presiding officers and clerks of the Caribbean, the Americas and the Atlantic region of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) got underway on Monday with calls for strengthening the role of parliaments, aimed at promoting greater democracy.
The conference has attracted delegates from Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands, Barbados, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and St Lucia. A special luncheon will also be hosted jointly by the Speaker and clerk of the National Assembly. A dinner is also planned and will be hosted by the prime minister and opposition leader, and a cocktail reception to be hosted by the president.
The objectives of the association are to promote knowledge of the respective constitutions, as well as the legislative, economic, social and cultural aspects of parliamentary democracy, with particular reference to the Commonwealth countries in the region. The last conference was held in 2011 in the Cayman Islands.
Speaker of the National Assembly of Guyana Raphael Trotman disclosed that this year’s conference will seek to discuss and address pertinent issues affecting parliaments within the region. Trotman said topics ranging from the role of the speaker in changing parliaments, to protecting members’ privileges as well as the procedures, rules, conventions and practices, will all be discussed.
Trotman also stated that the conference is aimed at making a difference to the ones held in the past, where many issues were discussed and little was done. He said “Meeting to merely talk through interesting topics and issues would amount to only playing parliament and conferences. Are we growing too complacent and compliant and squandering an opportunity to craft something different.”
President Donald Ramotar also called on the delegates to take the opportunity to work towards strengthening democracy through more effective decision-making at the level of the National Assembly. The president used the opportunity to state that projects that have been met with opposition, even though it would benefit all Guyanese, could in the end “lose the will to protect and defend democracy”.
Opposition Leader David Granger in his remarks touched on the evolving challenges that face many parliaments within the hemisphere. Granger pointed to threats that the Caribbean has faced in the past, especially as it relates to territorial claims. He advised the delegates to work towards tackling legislative issues pertaining to money laundering, narcotics trafficking and illegal migration. “We wish that your deliberations will contribute to devising practical responses to these challenges,”
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