VIEW FROM THE CPA CHAIRPERSON
COVID-19 AND ITS IMPACTS ON THE COMMONWEALTH PARLIAMENTARY ASSOCIATION View from the CPA Chairperson Currently, the world’s most dreadful, widespread Parliamentarians in order to continue to perform and lethal pandemic COVID-19 (Coronavirus) the Legislatures’ role of securitising bills and has had huge political, economic, social and ensuring democracy during a global pandemic. health impacts on states and governments at the The CPA family being an integral part of the international and regional levels, since its outbreak global village has not been spared. COVID-19 in the Wuhan Province of the People’s Republic of has obviously upset our activities, programmes China in November last year. Its rapid spread and and events for 2020 and perhaps beyond. The mode of transmission have been a great challenge CPA Headquarters Secretariat and the CPA and threat to human existence and activities. Its Coordinating Committee were compelled to take control has gradually become the world’s primary a decision to postpone all international travel concern, relegating other relevant issues to the and the delivery of any related programmes and Hon. Emilia Monjowa Lifaka, background. Almost all nations of the world have governance meetings. MP, Chairperson of the CPA had to revise or are thinking of revising their Consequently, the Mid-year CPA Executive Executive Committee and budgetary allocations to include the fight against Committee Meeting, which was slated for April Deputy Speaker of the National this global and indiscriminate pandemic of the 21st 2020 in Assam (India), could not take place and Assembly of Cameroon century. Therefore, this will require new legislation. has had to be rescheduled to 29 June to 3 July The merciless pandemic has, like an 2020, subject to the evolution of the disease. unstoppable giant, continued to claim victims, men and women, Similarly, the 49th CPA British Islands and Mediterranean Regional the old and the young, whites and blacks alike. According to global Conference, Valletta, Malta, which was initially planned from 27 to 30 statistics, as of 7 May 20201, there are 3,836,181 recorded cases of May 2020, will now be held virtually in September 2020. The 58th COVID-19, 265,356 deaths, 1,307,606 recovered cases, 2,263,219 CPA Canadian Regional Conference in Toronto, Ontario, Canada currently infected patients; with 2,215,132 cases (98%) experiencing planned for 18 to 24 July 2020 has been postponed to 2021. The 51st mild conditions and 48,087 (2%) in a serious or critical condition. CPA Africa Regional Conference due to take place in Abuja, Nigeria Almost all the continents and countries around the world are from 20 to 26 July 2020 has also been postponed to a future date. grappling with the effects of COVID-19. The victims of this pandemic In the same vein, the Commonwealth Heads of Government are the people who gave us their mandate, to speak on their behalf Meeting (CHOGM), which was slated for Kigali, Rwanda in June and our voice and actions should be a reflection of their aspirations. 2020 has also been postponed to a future date. Indeed, COVID-19 is leaving unprecedented and growing human, Furthermore, there is uncertainty looming over the holding of: economic, social and health impacts the world over. • 45th CPA Caribbean, Americas and the Atlantic Regional In the absence of a cure or vaccine, some of the unanimously Conference, Turks and Caicos, 10 to 18 July 2020; adopted preventive measures are: • The forthcoming 65th Commonwealth Parliamentary • Lockdown; Conference, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, 12 to 18 January • Frequent cleaning of hands using soap and water or an alcohol2021. based hand rub; • Social distancing; Commonwealth Parliaments and Parliamentarians have now • Wearing of masks; resorted to new ways of conducting debates, scrutinising and • Staying at home; passing legislation, holding Parliamentary Committees and • Calling toll free numbers in the event of suspected symptoms. exercising oversight of their governments. Evidently, COVID-19 has plunged many organisations, countries, While some Parliaments suspended their legislative work until Parliaments and Legislatures across the world into a state of further notice, others have resorted to teleworking and remote emergency. Many activities, programmes and events of our working through e-mails and by telephone. Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) have been affected The CPA has had to use alternative means to exercise its by this deadly pandemic. This has prompted the CPA Headquarters mandate of developing, promoting and supporting Commonwealth Secretariat to conduct research amongst its membership of 180 Parliamentarians and parliamentary staff to identify benchmarks Commonwealth Parliaments and Legislatures to synthesise a of good governance and to implement the enduring values of the forward-looking ‘CPA Toolkit for Commonwealth Parliaments and Commonwealth. Legislatures on COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic and delivering In order to curb the spread of the pandemic and ensure the parliamentary democracy’. This toolkit provides various measures continuity of service, the CPA Headquarters Secretariat staff have and recommendations that can be adopted by both Parliaments and resorted to working remotely (from home) until further notice. 90 | The Parliamentarian | 2020: Issue Two | 100 years of publishing 1920-2020
