• c) To promote gender equality and empower women; • d) To reduce child mortality; • e) To improve maternal health; •
f) To combat HIV and AIDS,
malaria and other diseases; • g) To ensure environmental sustainability, and • h) To develop a global partnership for development.
It is important therefore that as
we inaugurate this year’s conference, that we understand the nature of the many challenges that are facing us. Importantly, we need to know what is being done to address them. I am saying this because, as public representatives from Parliaments and state Legislatures, we have the responsibility to represent the interests of the people. It is our duty to ascertain that the resources that our nations have, individually and collectively, are being used effectively and efficiently in order to advance development. As public representatives, we
should not be afraid to be unpopular with members of the executive if they are not acting in the interest of the electorate. It is exactly for these checks and balances that we have the roles of the implementers and those who oversee implementation in a democracy. Bodies such as the CPA have
a significant role to play towards ensuring that we actively promote development informed by the values that we all stand for such as:
• a) Pursuing the ideals of democ- racy; • b) Promoting good governance; and • c) Respecting human rights and freedoms.
Through the CPA we remain
committed to keeping these foundational principles alive. A relevant Commonwealth for
the future is one that invests in young people. It is therefore opportune that during this summit we will, among
other things, tackle the challenge of youth unemployment. The Association is keenly aware
of its responsibility to reach out to the people in the process of advancing parliamentary democracy, especially the younger generation and to educate them about the work and values of the Commonwealth and the CPA, particularly in regard to the need to support democracy and the growth and sustenance of democratic institutions. It is often said that widespread
apathy exists among the younger generation towards political participation and parliamentary democracy. Whether this fear is exaggerated or not, without doubt young people need to understand the principles which underpin democracy and civil society, develop the skills to use that knowledge effectively and be able to participate in the appropriate fora. Young people today are no
longer seen as leaders of tomorrow they are leading today. Through their involvement in business,
development, policy, as well as secular and religious communities, one can see what a diverse and active young Commonwealth community offers the future of the Commonwealth. It is therefore critical that we use
this platform to intervene on behalf of the youth who are outside the margins of economy. What we do or fail to do today
will define their future and that of our democracies. No future will be served by angry youth who feel ostracized and are not able to participate in economic activities. With these words, I would like to
thank you for honouring the 58th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference with a view to sharing knowledge about matters that impact on our democracies and to strengthen the CPA. I wish you well in the engagements and hope that we will emerge ready to further enrich international politics and the agenda for development. Thank you