CPA NEWS ‘ALL POLITICS IS LOCAL’ AGREE BERMUDIAN PARLIAMENTARIANS AT CPA POSTELECTION SEMINAR Bermudian Parliamentarians came together to discuss their responsibilities as representatives and learn from others across the Commonwealth at a three-day Post-Election Seminar organised by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA). The seminar, held virtually from 1-3 December 2020, was designed to provide Bermudian Parliamentarians with an overview of their role and to explore the different parliamentary processes that they will participate in. Attendees were addressed by a resource team of 18 Parliamentarians, Presiding Officers and Clerks from different Commonwealth jurisdictions including St Lucia, Jersey, Pakistan, United Kingdom, Isle of Man, Canada, Cayman Islands, Guyana, Seychelles and Bermuda, brought together by the CPA to share their experiences, ideas and strategies. Several key themes emerged as common priorities and chief amongst these themes was the importance of remaining attentive to constituents at a local level whilst working in the arena of national politics. The CPA Secretary-General, Stephen Twigg, congratulated Bermuda MPs on their recent election success, particularly in the context of COVID-19, and highlighted the importance of strong and independent Parliaments in the Commonwealth. He also emphasised the Members’ crucial role as the voices of the citizens of Bermuda and drew upon his own experiences as a former UK MP to outline the challenges facing Parliamentarians. The Speaker of the Bermuda House of Assembly, Hon. Dennis Lister, JP, MP, said that learning from different Commonwealth Parliaments is crucial for newly elected MPs and that the CPA provides a vital network for Parliamentarians across the Commonwealth. The Speaker also reflected on the 400th anniversary of the Bermuda Parliament in 2020 and said that the newly elected MPs would have a unique opportunity to influence the start of the next 400 years in the history of Bermuda’s Parliament.
CPA AND CIVIL SERVICE COLLEGE LAUNCH INDUCTION PROGRAMME FOR GOVERNMENT MINISTERS
The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) and the Civil Service College are launching a new professional development programme aimed at new Government Ministers. The ‘From Backbencher to Minister’ programme is designed to equip new Ministers with the skills and tools to perform their roles more effectively. The new five-day programme combines classroom engagements with experiential learning and will walk new Ministers through their responsibilities, identifying the skills necessary for effective leadership of government departments. Topics covered by the programme will include ‘Communicating a Minister’s Priorities’, ‘Managing a Minister’s Private Office’ and ‘The Role of Special Advisers’. Attendees will have the opportunity to visit the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), the UK Parliament and the Office of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards. The CPA Secretary-General, Stephen Twigg said: “This new programme, that the CPA is supporting in partnership with the Civil Service College, will provide a unique opportunity for professional development for Government Ministers and bring new skills and tools to the role. As a former UK Government Minister myself, I know the effectiveness of individual Ministers can depend on their skills and so this programme is likely to have a significant impact on their effectiveness.” Led by ex-Ministers, Parliamentarians and civil servants, the comprehensive introduction to the role of Government Minster provided by this programme will provide new Ministers with the best possible foundation to ensure a smooth and fast transition into their position. For further details please email hq.sec@cpahq.org.
For the latest CPA and Commonwealth news please visit www.cpahq.org or follow the CPA on social media Twitter @CPA_Secretariat | Facebook.com/CPAHQ | LinkedIn | Instagram @cpa_secretariat 12 | The Parliamentarian | 2021: Issue One | 100 years of publishing
