House Speaker Commends CPA For Promoting Equality
By: , March 10, 2020The Key Point:
Photo: Mark Bell
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Pearnel Charles (third left), speaks with winners of the Commonwealth Day Debate – Chanice Henry (second left), Paris Rogers (third right) and Kiara Weston (second right) of Kingston High School. The competition, organised by the Houses of Parliament, was held on Monday (March 9) at the institution located at King's Street, downtown Kingston. Sharing in the moment (from left) are Clerk of the Houses, Heather Cooke (left); Deputy Clerk of the Houses, Valrie Curtis (background second right) and Principal, Kingston High, Andrea Gray Dwyer.
Photo: Mark Bell
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Pearnel Charles (left), engages with Principal, Kingston High School, Andrea Gray Dwyer during the Commonwealth Day Debate at Kingston High School on Monday (March 9).
Photo: Mark Bell
Winners of the Commonwealth Day Debate held on Monday (March 9) at Kingston High School. They are (from left) Chanice Henry, Paris Rogers and Kiara Weston.The Facts
- “In fact, an arm of the CPA is the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP), which seeks to promote greater participation by women in all our parliaments,” he noted.
- He was speaking at a Commonwealth Day event organised by the Houses of Parliament at Kingston High School on Monday (March 9).
The Full Story
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Pearnel Charles, has hailed the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) for providing an avenue for all member countries and parliamentarians to have an equal voice regardless of country size, income, race, religion or gender.
“In fact, an arm of the CPA is the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP), which seeks to promote greater participation by women in all our parliaments,” he noted.
He was speaking at a Commonwealth Day event organised by the Houses of Parliament at Kingston High School on Monday (March 9).
The CPA is an organisation committed to supporting and promoting democracy and good governance throughout the 54 member countries of the Commonwealth.
It is an association of more than 180 participants and legislatures at the national, state or provincial levels. More than 17,000 parliamentarians are members of the Association.
Mr. Charles said the organisation has developed programmes to provide training for parliamentarians and parliamentary staff to equip them with “in-depth and practical knowledge based on international good practices of parliamentary democracy”.
“By participating in CPA events, parliamentarians across the Commonwealth have the opportunity to share their experiences, strengths or shortcomings, in order to create efficient and effective parliaments, which will, in turn, mean good governance for the peoples of the Commonwealth,” he noted.
Mr. Charles said the Government has reiterated the importance of maintaining good relationships with other nations that are a part of the CPA.
“The cooperation demonstrated by the members is a fine example for us today as we seek to deliver a connected, innovative and transformed society,” he noted.
Commonwealth Day is being observed under the theme ‘Delivering a Common Future: Connecting, Innovating, Transforming’.
As a member of the CPA, the Jamaican Parliament, each year, engages in activities to sensitise young people about the Commonwealth.
This year, Parliament marked the occasion with a Commonwealth Day Debate at Kingston High School, where students debated on the motion: ‘This House believes that the Commonwealth is still relevant to 21st century Jamaica”.