VIEW FROM THE ACTING CPA CHAIRPERSON
110 YEARS OF DELIVERING A COMMON FUTURE The Acting CPA Chairperson reflects on recent CPA activities and looks back at 110 years of 'delivering a common future'. Acting Chairperson of the CPA Executive Committee, Hon. Ian Liddell-Grainger, MP, Member of the Parliament of the United Kingdom
Over the past decade I have been actively involved with the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association at a Branch and Regional level and now as Acting CPA Chairperson. Whilst I assumed the role in extremely sad and unforeseen circumstances, I hope that I will be able to provide the necessary stewardship until the next CPA Chairperson is elected. In writing my first View article for The Parliamentarian, I would like to first pay tribute to the late CPA Chairperson and Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly of Cameroon, Hon. Emilia Monjowa Lifaka, MP who sadly passed away on 20 April 2021. Hon. Lifaka’s passing came as a deep shock to the Association. Her passion for the CPA was unmatched and her tireless promotion of its work across the Commonwealth was clear in her several positions as CPA Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson and African Regional Representative. A formidable person, Hon. Lifaka was a powerful voice across Africa. Her passion for her work as a Parliamentarian and her commitment to all those she represented in her aspiration to deliver a common future was highlighted by her fierce championing for the rights of women. I was glad to have had
“Whilst we may not be able to meet in person, the theme for the CHOGM meeting, ‘Delivering a Common Future: Connecting, Innovating, Transforming’ remains as relevant as ever, offering opportunities for the people, Parliaments, governments and institutions of the Commonwealth to connect, work together and evolve at many levels through far-reaching and deep-rooted networks of friendship and goodwill – an aim which we have held since the CPA’s inception.” 114 | The Parliamentarian | 2021: Issue Two | 100 years of publishing
the opportunity to work alongside her at previous CPA events and more recently, albeit virtually, at the Meeting of the CPA Executive Committee held in March 2021. Hon. Lifaka’s presence and engagement at the CPA and within the wider Commonwealth will be greatly missed and I would like to extend my thanks to all those who have expressed condolences to the CPA, the Parliament of Cameroon and Hon. Lifaka’s family, friends and colleagues. Whilst the current restrictions in place prevented my travel to Cameroon, the CPA were ably represented at a session of parliamentary tributes to Hon. Lifaka and the funeral by Hon. Dr Zainab Gimba, MP, Vice-Chairperson of the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP) International and CWP Africa Chairperson, and Hon. Zakarayau Galadima, MP, CPA Nigeria Federal Branch Representative. A formal obituary and collated messages of condolence and respect from across the membership on the loss of Hon. Lifaka can be found within this issue. As the CPA membership continues to bravely cope with the COVID-19 pandemic, the postponement of all physical programmatic activities and governance meetings has remained during this period. The CPA International Executive Committee Meeting in March 2021 agreed to further postpone the 65th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference from August 2021 to August 2022, taking place in Halifax, Canada. In a similar move, the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) that had been set to take place in June 2021, has been further postponed to a future date. Whilst we may not be able to meet in person, the theme for the CHOGM meeting, ‘Delivering a Common Future: Connecting, Innovating, Transforming’ remains as relevant as ever, offering opportunities for the people, Parliaments, governments and institutions of the Commonwealth to connect, work together and evolve at many levels through far-reaching and deep-rooted networks of friendship and goodwill – an aim which we have held since the CPA’s inception. Established on 18 July 1911 as the Empire Parliamentary Association and later as the Commonwealth Parliamentary
