65th Commonwealth Parliamentary/ Association Conference, Halifax Canada 20th – 26th August 2022

#TurksandCaicos, September 8, 2022 – The Turks and Caicos Islands delegation led by His Honour the Speaker, Hon. Gordon J. Burton, Hon. Akierra M. D. Missick, Hon. Jamell R. Robinson, Hon. Alvin K. Garland, Hon. Willin A. Belliard and Mrs. Tracey I. Parker, Hon. Secretary TCI CPA Branch recently attended the 65^th Commonwealth Parliamentary Association meeting.  Recognising the Commonwealth’s commitment to democracy the theme for the sessions” Inclusive, Accessible, Accountable and Strong Parliamentarians: The Cornerstone of Democracy and Essential for Development” was timely.

The Conference, hosted by the CPA Canada Region was held from 20^th – 27^th August 2022 in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada and was attended by over 600 Parliamentarians and Parliamentary Clerks representing Parliaments and Legislatures from across the Commonwealth.

The opening ceremony was held on Tuesday 23^rd August, 2022. The Guest Speaker was the Vice Patron of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), Her Excellency Rt Hon. Mary Simon, Governor General of Canada.

The Conference included the 65^th CPA General Assembly, the 38^th CPA Small Branches Conference, CPA Governance meetings, CPA Executive Committee, the 7^th triennial Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP) and the Commonwealth Parliamentarians with Disabilities (CPwD) Regional Champions and the 56^th General Assembly of the Society of Clerks at the Table (SOCATT).

His Honour the Speaker, Burton attended and participated in the CPA Governance meeting as a member of the CPA Executive Committee Exco.

During the Conference a number of elections were held for several key position within the CPA:

• CPA Chairperson
• CPA Treasurer
• CPA Vice Chairperson
• Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP) Chairperson
• CPA Small Branches Chairperson

Hon. Akierra M. D. Missick, Minister for Physical Planning and Infrastructure Development was a panelist at the Small Branches Conference on the topic: “Financial Scrutiny and Oversight: How can Small Parliaments ensure effective accountability?”.

Members of the delegation also participated on topics such as: Building Sustainable Economies in Small Branches, Financial Empowerment of Women and Gender-Sensitive Budgeting, Professional Development for Parliamentarians – Opportunities and Challenges for Small Parliaments, Youth Roundtable – Cyberbullying: Youth Trolling and Mental Health, The Climate Emergency: Are Parliaments Holding Governments to Account etc.

“Hon. Speaker Burton commented that after an absence of two years due to the COVID 19 pandemic, parliamentarians from throughout the Commonwealth were able to come together once again to discuss and agree on important matters affecting our countries such as climate change, good governance, professional development and to give a voice to Small Branches, Women Parliamentarians and Parliamentarians with Disabilities at the CPA General Assembly level. The delegation from the Turks and Caicos Islands was well represented in the discussions and made worthwhile connections with a number of parliaments that should assist us in improving as a parliament going forward.”

For further details on the CPA and this conference, visit the CPA Website: www.cpahq.org.