CPA NEWS Commonwealth Day 2022 COMMONWEALTH DAY IN THE CPA’S 180 PARLIAMENTS AND LEGISLATURES The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) celebrated Commonwealth Day 2022 across its nine Regions and over 180 Parliaments and Legislatures on the theme of ‘Delivering a Common Future: Connecting, Innovating, Transforming’ which offered opportunities for the people, Parliaments, governments and institutions of the Commonwealth to connect and work together at many levels through far-reaching and deep-rooted networks of friendship and goodwill. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Head of the Commonwealth and Patron of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, released her Commonwealth Day message in which she spoke of the diversity of the people and countries that make up the Commonwealth and its ability to deliver a common future for all. The Queen was represented by HRH The Prince of Wales at the multi-faith Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey where he joined Members of the Royal Family, the Commonwealth Secretary-General, representatives of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, High Commissioners, dignitaries and over 600 schoolchildren.
The CPA Secretary-General, Stephen Twigg said: “‘Delivering a common future is a powerful message as we seek to learn the lessons of the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on the citizens and institutions of the Commonwealth. The pandemic has reminded us that we live in an inter-connected world community in which we have a shared responsibility to address common challenges. As we celebrate the CPA Patron’s seventy years of service to the Commonwealth, there will be a particular focus this year on the important role of service in communities across the Commonwealth. During the pandemic, we have been reminded of the invaluable contribution made by all those working in the health and care sectors as well as other key workers and volunteers who have ensured that communities and families have been supported.” Commonwealth Day is celebrated annually on the second Monday of March with CPA Branches hosting a wide range of in-person and virtual events.
COMMONWEALTH DAY CELEBRATIONS AT UK PARLIAMENT JOINED BY SPEAKERS FROM SAINT LUCIA AND THE BAHAMAS
On Commonwealth Day 2022, the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, Stephen Twigg attended the flag raising of the Commonwealth flag at a special ceremony held at the UK Parliament by the Joint CPA UK Branch President and the Speaker of the UK House of Commons, Rt Hon. Sir Lindsay Hoyle MP. The Speaker of the House of Assembly of Saint Lucia, Hon. Claudius Francis and the Speaker of the House of Assembly of The Bahamas, Hon. Patricia Deveaux both joined the ceremony along with representatives of Commonwealth organisations in the UK, Commonwealth High Commissioners and British Overseas Territories representatives. The Fijian Mini Choir entertained the guests. The ceremony was followed by the opening of special exhibition of historic photographs from 1934 commissioned by the UK Parliamentary Press Gallery depicting many historic Parliament buildings in Commonwealth countries displayed alongside modern photographs from today's Commonwealth members.
CPA SCOTLAND BRANCH SECURE COMMONWEALTH DAY MOTION At the Scottish Parliament, Hon. Sarah Boyack MSP secured cross-party support for her motion on Commonwealth Day 2022 which was debated and signed by Members across the Parliament. The motion recognised “the work of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association over the last 12 months, mainly through virtual meetings, in discussing a range of issues, including the response to COVID19, encouraging greater diversity in Parliaments and the climate emergency; considers that these will be key themes across 2022, as will the work of the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians and the Commonwealth Parliamentarians with Disabilities networks.”
CPA JAMAICA BRANCH MARKS COMMONWEALTH DAY IN 60TH ANNIVERSARY YEAR The CPA Jamaica Branch and the Parliament of Jamaica joined with other Commonwealth jurisdictions in celebrating Commonwealth Day 2022 under the theme of ‘Delivering a Common Future: Connecting, Innovating and Transforming’. The celebrations were held in a year that holds special significance for Jamaica as it marks the sixtieth year of independence and so the Commonwealth Day event was dubbed ‘Commonwealth Kaleidoscope: Jamaica at 60 in the Commonwealth’. This virtual activity allowed the Parliament to explore Jamaica's membership in the Commonwealth as well as issues such as intra-Commonwealth trade, climate change, technology, youth development, education and governance. The CPA Jamaica Branch Secretary and the Clerk to the Houses, Ms Valrie Curtis welcomed the virtual audience as the event was streamed by the Public Broadcasting Corporation of Jamaica on its YouTube channel and Facebook page. The Joint CPA Jamaica Branch President and the Speaker of the House, Hon. Marisa Dalrymple-Philibert MP and the Leader of the Opposition, Hon. Mark Golding MP also spoke to participants.
164 | The Parliamentarian | 2021: Issue Two | 100 years of publishing