By Josiah Williams
The 46th Conference of the Caribbean, the Americas, and the Atlantic Region of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) began today in Georgetown, Guyana, bringing together Parliamentarians and Clerks from across 12 states.
This important gathering aims to strengthen democratic institutions and address key global challenges.
At the opening ceremony, held at the Umana Yana, President Dr. Irfaan Ali underscored the significance of the conference as a platform for reinforcing democratic principles across the region.
He emphasized the need for continuous vigilance in safeguarding democracy and stressed the opportunity to share best practices and strategies for addressing pressing issues such as sustainable development, climate change, peace and security, and artificial intelligence.
The President called for the development of a compendium of best practices that will contribute to the protection of democratic institutions and foster positive regional change.
The conference also featured remarks by Arthur Holder, Chairman of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, who expressed his hope that this gathering would lead to real, tangible change rather than simply serving as another meeting.
He encouraged delegates to pool their resources to better equip their parliaments in confronting global challenges.
The conference, themed “Democracy: Challenges Facing Modern Parliaments,” will continue until September 7, with discussions focused on strengthening democratic processes and addressing critical global issues.
President Ali also took the opportunity to acknowledge and thank the regional and international bodies that played pivotal roles in defending Guyana’s democracy during the 2020 elections.