Speaker of the Montserrat Legislative Assembly, Honourable Marjorie Smith, last week represented the island at the 47th Regional Conference of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Caribbean, Americas and the Atlantic (CAA) Region.
Held in The Bahamas from September 5–13, the high-level gathering, which drew more than 80 delegates, including Speakers, Members of Parliament, and observers from across the wider Commonwealth, focused on the theme “Deepening of Regional Democracy – An Independent Parliament.”
Discussions across the week highlighted pressing regional challenges, including the advancement of gender-sensitive legislation, parliamentary budgeting, and the growing impact of climate change on small and vulnerable states.
Ahead of the main conference, the 15th Regional Conference for Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP) convened, with delegates welcomed by The Bahamas’ Minister of Labour and Public Service, Pia Glover-Rolle, MP, and Minister of State for Housing and Urban Renewal, Lisa Rahming, MP.
Their remarks were centred on women’s empowerment in politics, addressing gender bias, and strengthening pathways for greater female participation in governance.
The CWP sessions and the Regional CWP Steering Committee meeting were chaired by Hon. Rochelle Forde, MP, Speaker of the House of Assembly of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, who currently serves as the Caribbean Region’s representative on the CWP International Steering Committee.
In addition to the parliamentary and CWP sessions, the week also featured the 18th CPA Caribbean, Americas and the Atlantic Regional Youth Parliament, the annual meeting of the CPA CAA Regional Executive Committee, and the Region’s Annual General Meeting.
The CPA Caribbean, Americas and the Atlantic Region brings together 19 legislatures, spanning national, sub-national, and territorial parliaments.
Its conferences provide a critical platform for parliamentarians to share experiences, strengthen democratic practices, and address shared regional concerns.