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Contact: Christopher Satney

Wednesday, August 22, 2007 – The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) is assisting local parliamentarians better understand their role and the procedure of house sittings.


Members of both the House of Assembly and the Senate attended a two-day Post Election Seminar this week, conducted at the Bay Gardens Inn.

CPA Director of Information Services Andrew Imlach said this kind of exercise is one of the more important functions of the CPA. He said parliamentarians have the most important profession in every society, but have little knowledge or training in the task they are to fulfil or of the modernization of parliamentary proceedings.

“It is an opportunity to be intensive with one parliament rather than bringing together a large number of parliaments with very few representatives of each. This is an opportunity of members of one parliament to put their political differences to one side, to put their policy differences behind them and look at the way they conduct their business,” the CPA official said. “This is the only profession that has no academic training tied to it; no entry requirements, and no qualifications—aside from getting elected. Based on our experience most parliamentarians see themselves as lawyers, doctors, accountants, farmers, businessmen who are in politics. We want you to consider yourselves parliamentarians.”

Acting Prime Minister Honourable Stephenson King, who is on his third stint as a Parliamentary Representative, welcomed the two-day exercise as a boost to the business of parliament.

“It is one which prepares you and prepares us to understand the whole business of parliamentary procedure—what is generally acceptable—and to sharpen our skill preparing us to perform and to function as parliamentarians. In the Commonwealth there is a tremendous wealth and experience existing among parliamentarians, who often comes forward to assist us and to make their contribution to the process,” said the Acting Prime Minister

St. Lucia's parliamentary proceedings have evolved over the last ten years, with the introduction of the use of the kweyol language, the easing up on rules for women to have their heads covered at sittings and the use of powerpoint presentations for the delivery of the fiscal estimates.


 


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