Third Commons and Overseas Territories Speakers’ Conference held in Turks and Caicos Islands

The Speaker of the House of Assembly, Hon. Gordon Burton welcomed his counterparts from across the British Overseas Territories to the third Commons and Overseas Territories Speakers Conference 2024, held 2-5 April 2024. 
 
Speakers from Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Montserrat, Saint Helena, Turks and Caicos Islands and the Deputy Speaker of the UK House of Commons gathered for the third in-person led conference and the 2nd to be held in an Overseas Territory.
 
The conference was opened with a special sitting of the House of Assembly in Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos Islands on Wednesday 3rd April 2024.  The Conference delegates were welcomed to the House of Assembly by Speaker Burton as well as HE the Governor, the Hon. Premier and the Leader of the Opposition. The Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons Hon. Nigel Evans and the Speaker of the Youth Parliament Captain Dixie Smith also addressed the House of Assembly. 
 
The Conference was an opportunity for delegates and representatives to engage on key areas of interest, from parliamentary democracy and security to the protocol and procedures of the Speaker. The Conference also included sessions on cyber security, AI opportunities and challenges, as well as communications and the role of social media.
 
The Conference was also attended by Clerks, the UK Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) and CPA Headquarters, as well as other representatives from the Overseas Territories.  
 
The Speakers welcomed the opportunity to come together as Commons and Overseas Territories Speakers and to have frank and open discussions on areas of mutual interest. 
 
The Conference concluded with a Communique committing to continue to work together to create a unique and modern 
partnership to strengthen parliamentary democracy. By working together there is much that can be achieved.
 
The next Commons and Overseas Territories Speakers Conference will be held in London in 2025 to continue discussions and review progress against the actions that were identified in this year’s conference.