FORGING A STRONGER COMMONWEALTH ROLE FOR PARLIAMENTARIANS
In Perth in October, the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) was for the first time represented at a Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) by a delegation drawn from its elected officers. Together with Vice-Chairperson Dr Nafisa Shah, MNA, of Pakistan and Treasurer Hon. Marwick Khumalo, MP, of Swaziland, I was honoured to be present at this important Commonwealth event. We were of course supported by our Secretary-General, Dr William Shija. This was a useful and interesting start on which we must hope to build. By the time of the next CHOGM in Sri Lanka in 2013 I hope that the CPA will have a more recognized role. The actual meeting of the Heads of Government is only a part of the proceedings. Surrounding them is a gathering of representation from a great many of the organizations which exist under the Commonwealth umbrella. It is a great networking occasion; but next time round I would not wish to see the CPA in any sense lost in the crowd. We deserve a more prominent position. That said, we must earn it. Leaders recognize that the Commonwealth itself is not prominent in the consciousness of a large percentage of its population. Understandably therefore, recognition of the work of the CPA is at a low level. The report of the Commonwealth Eminent Persons Group (EPG),
which had been mandated to examine options for reform, formed a major item on the CHOGM agenda. At the risk of being seen to harbour an inferiority complex, I was disappointed to find that the EPG report contained only one reference to the CPA – and you had to get to page 128 to find it. Of all the 90 or so bodies belonging to the Commonwealth family, an association of Parliamentarians should surely attract greater attention. The CPA has the potential to further many of the objectives proposed by the EPG. The question is whether we are ready to grasp the opportunity. One of the issues which I have inherited on becoming Chairperson of the Executive Committee is our Association’s status. Currently we are constituted as a registered English charity. This gives us considerable tax advantages. However, I recognize that some of our Branches are uncomfortable with this status and I am committed to trying to find a
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universally acceptable alternative which does not undermine our financial position.
Rt Hon. Sir Alan Haselhurst, MP Chairperson of the CPA Executive Committee and Member of the House of Commons, United Kingdom
Important though this is, I cannot help reflecting that our status in the eyes of Heads of Government and others depends on what the CPA is seen to achieve. I think we can greatly extend our reach and improve our impact. If the Commonwealth itself is being challenged by the EPG to redefine its priorities, the CPA can surely take some hints from their report. We have, of course, our own eminent persons in the form of a CPA Working Party charged with putting forward proposals for the CPA’s future development. I shall encourage all the members of our Executive Committee to do some blue-sky thinking about the best strategy to carry us forward. The central point to which we should hold firm is
that we are elected Parliamentarians. Our main purpose in being associated is to help each other further the principles of representative parliamentary democracy and uphold the values which lie at the heart of the Commonwealth of Nations. We cannot do everything on our own; but we can do more if we make alliances with others such as civil society organizations and governments where we are perhaps better equipped to deliver common objectives. We are at our best when we maximize our human resource, engaging Members, Clerks and other officials in the provision of courses, seminars and conferences. But what are the most urgent needs and causes on which we should concentrate?
Empowering women, the special concerns of small states, keeping faith with young people: all these are obvious and constitute a huge agenda in themselves. Yet we cannot afford to ignore development issues, climate change and human rights. We must think through all these matters and agree a strategy in which all our Regions feel happy and which they are committed.
If we can show that we are effective in reinforcing parliamentary democracy and what is often termed soft diplomacy, we will boost our prestige and be noticed with enhanced respect. The CPA should settle for no less than being the pre-eminent relation in the Commonwealth family.