Guyana hosting Conference of the Caribbean, Americas and Atlantic Region's Commonwealth Parliamentary Association

The 46th Conference of the Caribbean, the Americas and the Atlantic Region’s Commonwealth Parliamentary Association got underway this morning at the Umana Yana with a call for more inclusive and robust Parliamentary work across the region

Secretary General of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, Steven Twigg, said the conference presents an opportunity for Parliaments in the region to discuss a number of issues that currently confront the region, ranging from sustainable development, peace and security, climate change and artificial intelligence.

“And all of this reinforces the importance of strong and effective multilateral institutions be they global like the UN and the Commonwealth or be they at the regional level and it also strengthens in particular the importance of celebrating our shared values as set out in the commonwealth charter, including those commitments to the rule of law, human rights and inclusive political leadership,” Twigg said.

Opposition Member of Parliament, Ganesh Mahipaul who represented Opposition Leader, Aubrey Norton at the conference, said Parliaments must strive to foster a culture of honesty and integrity. He said parliaments are quickly becoming a battleground for partisan conflicts, instead of constructive criticism and meaningful debates.

“This loss of faith in Parliamentary institution, undermines the legitimacy of democracy itself. When people feel that their voices are not being heard or that their representatives are disconnected from their realities, voter apathy increases and the very fabric of democracy begins to fray. To address this, Parliaments must embrace transparency and accountability, not as buzzwords but as guiding principles,” Mahipaul said.

President Irfaan Ali who also delivered remarks at the event, said that the foremost challenge in protecting Parliamentary democracy is to ensure respect for free and fair elections, noting that it is the very basis of representatives’ governments and parliaments.

‘To safeguard democracy, we most first ensure that our electoral processes are transparent, inclusive and reflective of the will of the people. This means not only conducting free and fair elections but also creating and environment where all citizens can participate fully and equally in this process,’ the President noted

Equally important, the President said, is the protection of Constitutional rights including fundamental human rights for safeguarding democratic norms and good governance.

The Regional Conference has brought together Parliamentarians and Parliamentary Clerks from jurisdictions across the region for discussions on the theme, “Democracy: Challenges Facing Modern Parliaments.

The conference will conclude on Saturday.