TCI attends CPA Leadership Workshop in Honolulu, Hawaii

PRESS RELEASE

FROM THE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY

OF THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS

Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands – Thursday, 8 August 2024: Last week, the Turks and Caicos Islands attended the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Small Branches workshop in Honolulu, Hawaii. The delegation comprised the Honourable Matthew Stubbs, elected member for the Bight, Mrs. Lormeka Williams, Deputy Permanent Secretary, Office of the Premier and Public Policy, and Mrs. Tracey Parker, Clerk to the House of Assembly.

The workshop’s theme, “Legislative Leadership for Environment Resilience in Small Jurisdiction”, was not just timely, but crucial. Parliamentarians, as representatives, legislators, and scrutineers, play a pivotal role in shaping the environmental resilience of small jurisdictions. Equipping them with the necessary knowledge and skills to devise effective strategies and foster connections with the wider policy and research community is therefore of utmost importance. The workshop was specifically designed to address this need, providing a platform for knowledge-sharing and collaboration among small jurisdictions. Led by field experts, the workshop offered insights into best practices and real-world case studies from various jurisdictions.

Hon. Stubbs stated, “I am pleased to have had the opportunity to attend the CPA 2024 Parliamentary Small Branch’s workshop and legislative leadership conference for environmental resilience in small jurisdictions. I have met professional people from other small islands like ours attending this full-session, week-long course. It has advanced my knowledge and given me many new ideas to help advance TCI’s response to climate change. I have a renewed understanding of renewable energy and how it works. My government continues to push energy reform and the establishment of sustainable energy.

This conference’s topics covered sustainable food systems, strategies for change, how small islands like ours are impacted daily by climate change, moving towards 100% renewable energy, and much more.

A goal for us to work towards and achieve in these islands is to have some 40/60% Independence from fossil fuels by 2040/45”.

The sessions at the workshop were comprehensive, delving into crucial topics such as energy consumption and the transition to 100% renewable energy. The use of solar fields for agriculture and the strategies for sourcing international funding were among the many topics covered during the sessions.

Mrs. Williams was a panelist and presenter in the session titled “Implementation of Sustainable Environmental Legislation.”  During her presentation, she highlighted the importance of legislation in sustainable development and responding to Climate Change impacts. She also highlighted the Turks and Caicos Islands’ legislative progress to promote sustainable development and preserve the future.