PLENARY SESSION - COMMONWEALTH MATTERS
Vice-President of the CPA Africa Region and Speaker of the Gauteng Legislature, Hon. Lindiwe Maseko, MPL, (in white) listening to the Secretary-General during the Plenary.
wish to use the opportunity available at this conference to further expand the fraternity and friendship through the CPA. We need to continue to overcome
our cultural and gender barriers for a better Commonwealth. Let us use the opportunities at this conference in Sri Lanka and future activities to strengthen equality and eliminate divisive elements that could weaken the relevance of the Commonwealth in future. Also, the development partnerships that lead to the reduction of poverty should be maximized in the Commonwealth. Mr President, the CPA successes
Hon. Alix Boyd-Knights, MHA, Speaker of Dominica. Also, I am happy to note that
a recent three-year CWP work programme has provided focus and impetus for the Association. A triennial CWP Conference in the final year of the term of the CWP Chairperson is organized at the Annual Conference; and at its 2010 meeting in Kenya, the General Assembly agreed that the CWP Chairperson become one of the Officers of the Association. I believe that these steps, which promote the participation of women in public service through Parliaments, are highly relevant to the future of the Commonwealth. In the area of global, national and
personal security, our programme events have always focused on debates on human trafficking, the rights of women and children, migration, and other related issues. The CPA has had rich discussions and considerable experience to assist Parliaments and countries in post-conflict situations. This type of programme could benefit countries such as Sri Lanka, and the CPA will examine the possibility of planning and implementing a relevant programme for Sri Lanka in the near future, particularly in cooperation with the Commonwealth Secretariat and
the Parliament of Sri Lanka itself. With regard to Commonwealth
Promotion activities, the CPA has an annual Commonwealth Day programme which brings together over 35 Commonwealth citizens aged between 18 and 26 at CPA Headquarters to introduce participants to the Commonwealth, the CPA, democracy and parliamentary affairs, and includes a tour of the United Kingdom Parliament. Commonwealth Day and Youth Parliament activities across branches are usually supported by the Secretariat through modest grants. The brief programme activities
I have described are usually made possible because of four main factors: that is, programme source, funding, host Branch availability and partners. I therefore kindly request you to continue to identify these areas that your Parliaments and Legislatures can base a programme request, since this is an important principle in a member-driven organization such as ours. It is gratifying for me to note that at
present our Association is financially healthy to enable an increase in the volume of programme activities through short and medium term proposed events. The other factor that energises
244 | The Parliamentarian | 2012: Issue Four
our activities and programmes is our relationship with partners. Over the years, the Association has built close partnerships with almost all organizations that carry out parliamentary work, either through research or issue-based events. The Commonwealth Secretariat and other Commonwealth organizations make up the main partners. We believe that good partners enable us to add new methods of expanding the relevancy of the Commonwealth. The CPA programme activities
are facilities to strengthen the effectiveness of Parliamentarians and parliamentary staff. Over the past decade, the CPA and partners have contributed much to parliamentary reform and strengthening. For example, last year, the CPA and the World Bank Institute co-published a major book on Parliamentary Reform in Africa after several years of cooperation on the subject. Earlier in 2006, we introduced the Benchmarks for Democratic Legislatures, a programme which continues to assist many developing Parliaments to modernize their parliamentary procedures and practices. Mr President, distinguished
delegates, let me end my remarks by requesting that every one of us may
have always been made by all in the family. I therefore wish to recognize the extensive contribution and guidance of former and present Chairpersons and Members of the Executive Committee, as well as our Speakers and Presiding Officers. In the period under review and now, they have always provided guidance, encouragement, and clear policy direction based on a democratic process. I respectfully and highly commend our Speakers and Presiding Officers who make decisions for our Branches’ participation in our activities such as this conference in Sri Lanka and several others. I also wish to thank my colleagues,
the Regional and Branch Secretaries for their most valuable, extensive and dedicated contribution and assistance in communicating the essential information that make the life line of our Association. And last but not least, I sincerely thank my colleagues, all the staff of the CPA Headquarters Secretariat, who constantly team up with me to keep the CPA machinery constantly moving. I wish you all a happy and
successful conference and look forward to working with you to prepare for the next and 59th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Thank you very much for your kind attention.
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