Over 70 Parliamentarians from 14 countries will soon begin arriving in the Territory for the 40th Annual Conference of the Caribbean, Americas and Atlantic Region of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) from July 25 to August 1.

Currently, flags are placed at the round-a-bout signaling the commencement of the conference. The theme of the conference is ‘Promoting Democracy and Good Governance: A Unified Approach’. Parliamentarians are from Member States of the CPA.

According to Speaker of the House, Honourable Ingrid Moses-Scatliffe, “I am looking forward to the BVI’s hosting of this conference as the objectives of it is to promote knowledge of the legislative, economic, social and cultural aspects of parliamentary democracy, particularly for Commonwealth countries in the region.”

The CPA is an Association of Commonwealth Parliaments providing the sole means of regular consultation among Members of Commonwealth Parliaments. It fosters cooperation and understanding among them and promotes the study of and respect for Parliament. Its role is endorsed by Commonwealth Parliaments and Heads of Government throughout the region.

The regional event will begin with the 8^th Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians Conference on the 25^th and among the topics for discussion will be “The Role of Political Parties in Female Representation – Making it Happen”. This one-day meeting will include representation from Bahamas, Nevis, Bermuda, Montserrat, Cayman Islands, Antigua and Bermuda, Turks and Caicos Islands and the British Virgin Islands.

Also, plenary sessions of the main conference will be held over a two-day period at Maria’s by the Sea Ballroom and will include topics such as “Promoting Democracy and Realising Good Governance”; “Giving the Public a Wider Say in the Policy Making Process” and “Challenges to Parliamentary Privilege. Where do we draw the line?”

The public is invited to the official opening ceremony of the conference on Monday, July 27^th at 4:00 p.m. at the Eileene L. Parsons Auditorium, H. Lavity Stoutt Community College. The ceremony will also be aired live on ZBVI 780 AM and Stingray TV channel 52.

The week-long conference also includes an Annual Regional Executive Committee Meeting and the Regional Annual General Meeting.

Also included in the conference is the 11^th Regional Commonwealth Youth Parliament. This parliament includes young people from the British Virgin Islands, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Nevis and the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago who will debate a motion on the participation of young people in any representative democracy. The public is invited to attend the Youth Parliament on Thursday, July 30 at the Eileene L. Parsons Auditorium, H. Lavity Stoutt Community College at 9:00 a.m.  The debate will also be aired live on ZBVI 780 AM and Stingray TV channel 52.

The purpose of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Branches of the Caribbean, the Americas and the Atlantic Region (CPA CAA) is to provide a forum to promote the aims and objectives and implement the activities of CPA CAA and the Branches in the region.

Member States of the CPA include Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Montserrat, Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, St. Kitts, Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, the Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands.