For immediate release, 9 May 2018

The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) will help strengthen parliamentary practice and procedure for the recently elected Nevis Island Assembly when it holds a CPA Post-Election Seminar next week. The CPA Post-Election Seminar in Charlestown, Nevis is held to enable current and recently elected Parliamentarians to gain a broader understanding of the principles of parliamentary democracy and strengthen their skillsets.

The eight Member Nevis Island Assembly is one of the smallest legislatures in the CPA’s membership of over 180 Commonwealth Parliaments and Legislatures. It is located on a small island with a population of 13,000 people that is an autonomous region within the Federation of Saint Christopher and Nevis. Last year, on 18 December, Nevis Island held transparent, free and fair elections with a 59% voter turnout which demonstrated the island’s commitment to the democratic ideals enshrined in the Commonwealth Charter.

The CPA is the only Commonwealth body that works to strengthen small legislatures like the Nevis Island Assembly as well as working with larger national, state and provincial legislatures. The CPA Post-Election Seminar will give Members of the Nevis Island Assembly an excellent opportunity to learn about parliamentary practice and procedure and to gain a better understanding of the parliamentary system and democratic processes in other Commonwealth jurisdictions. The seminar will be opened by Hon. Farrel Smithen, President of the Nevis Island Assembly; Hon. Mark Brantley, MP, Premier of Nevis Island and Minister of Foreign Affairs for St Kitts and Nevis; and the CPA Secretary-General, Mr Akbar Khan.

In opening the seminar, Mr Akbar Khan said: “The CPA Post-Election Seminar for the Nevis Island Assembly demonstrates the CPA’s commitment to our Small Branches and to the mutuality of learning among CPA Members. At the CPA, we understand that whether a democracy is young or old, whether in a small or large jurisdiction, developing a democracy is a continuous exercise that requires constant nurturing and a weak Parliament will invariably have a corrosive effective on democracy. We must therefore always seek and grasp opportunities to strengthen Parliament, nurture public trust in the institution and build the capacity of its Parliamentarians through programmes like the CPA Post-Election Seminars.”

During his visit to Nevis Island, the CPA Secretary-General will deliver one of three CPA Roadshows for young people in the CPA Caribbean, Americas and Atlantic Region with a visit to a local school. The CPA Roadshows provide an opportunity for young people to learn about the political values of the Commonwealth such as diversity, development and parliamentary democracy; to discuss issues of concern about the society in which they live; and to find out about the work of the CPA.

Ahead of the CPA Post-Election Seminar in Nevis, Mr Akbar Khan will undertake a bilateral visit to Guyana where he will meet with Hon. Dr Barton Scotland, MP, Speaker of the National Assembly of Guyana. While in Guyana, the CPA Secretary-General will meet with students at the University of Guyana as part of the CPA Roadshows in Commonwealth schools and universities.

Following the visit to Nevis Island, the CPA Secretary-General will commence a bilateral visit to Jamaica where he will attend a reception hosted by Senator. Hon. Thomas Tavares-Finson, President of the Senate and Hon. Pearnel Charles, MP, Speaker of the House of Representatives, who are also the joint Presidents of the CPA Jamaica Branch. The CPA Secretary-General will also launch the inaugural CPA Roadshow for young people in Jamaica for the first time where he will meet young people to discuss the importance of the Commonwealth and of parliamentary democracy.

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