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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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