Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, Honourable Marjorie Smith led a delegation to the 28th Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth (CSPOC) in New Delhi, India. The January 14th to 18th conference was also attended by Parliamentary Secretary, Honourable Dwayne Hixon – and Clerk of the Legislative Assembly Dr. Judith Baker. They joined the contingent of participants, from 53 national parliaments of sovereign states of the Commonwealth, as well as 14 semi-autonomous parliaments. In a news release the Legislative Assembly states that Montserrat was presented with an opportunity to engage in dialogue with officers from other diverse constitutional, legal, and parliamentary traditions as part of this high-level parliamentary forum of the Commonwealth of Nations. It says a true reflection of today’s environment with its evolving challenges to parliamentary functioning and democratic resilience, the discussions focused on current challenges facing legislatures and modern democratic practices. The bi-annual conference took a deep dive into several themes. They include AI in Parliament – Balancing Innovation, Oversight and Adaptation; Social Media and its Impact on Parliamentarians; Innovative Strategies to enhance Public Understanding of Parliament and Citizen Participation beyond voting; and Security, Health and Well-being of Members of Parliament and Parliamentary Staff. According to the news release, a key takeaway from the conference for the Montserrat contingent, reflected by the Honourable Speaker, was guided by the timeless Indian philosophy of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” – the world is one family. The 28th CSPOC provided a rich platform for Speakers and Presiding Officers to exchange varying experiences and perspectives on issues of vital contemporary importance to the functioning of Parliaments across the Commonwealth, in a congenial environment marked by openness and mutual respect.
