VIEW FROM THE CPA SMALL BRANCHES CHAIRPERSON
A NEW STRATEGIC DIRECTION FOR CPA SMALL BRANCHES View from the CPA Small Branches Chairperson As the newly elected Chairperson of the Small the pressing need of small legislations within the Branches of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Commonwealth to come together in order to address Association (CPA), it is indeed an honour for me common difficulties and strengths, and to share to write this article for The Parliamentarian. the experiences of their parliaments or legislative In December 2016, during the 35th CPA Small assemblies. In January and February this year, I Branches Conference, I was unanimously elected communicated with all the Small Branches seeking to the role of Small Branches Chairperson their immediate feedback on how to produce a strong with the specific aim of strengthening the strategic plan that addresses the problems that Small network within the CPA Small Branches and Branches are facing because of their smallness. representing the needs of their jurisdictions on This plan would aim to serve as both a strategic the CPA Executive Committee. Of the over 180 communication and a planning mechanism to enable Branches of the CPA, 43 are classified as Small Hon. Anġelo Farrugia, it to act as a powerful tool for Small Branches. Branches, which are defined as jurisdictions MP, Chairperson of the Following the initial response from several Small with a population below 500,000 people. In my CPA Small Branches and Branches, I convened two webinars, held in March new role, I intend to be the voice of the Small Speaker of the House of and April, in which together with representatives of Branches within the wider Association and to Representatives of the other Small Branches, I discussed in further detail the discuss strategies to build capacities within Small Parliament of Malta. scope behind such a strategic plan and my intention Branches in all CPA programmes and initiatives. to present the plan to the next Executive Committee The Commonwealth was the first organisation to recognise the meeting, which was subsequently held in April in Darwin, Australia. unique challenges faced by small countries and raise awareness Since the role of the Small Branches Chairperson was officially about their issues internationally. Coming from a Small Branch myself, recognised in the CPA Constitution and the elected Small Branches I firmly believe that Small Branches have an important role to play and Chairperson was added to the CPA Executive Committee and contribute to the diversity of the organisation and its global reach. A Coordinating Committee, I had the opportunity to participate in country is more likely to achieve sustainable development if it inspires the meeting of the Coordinating Committee which was held on confidence, and it can only inspire confidence if it is founded on a 25 April, prior to the meeting of the Executive Committee held strong democratic culture. On the other hand, Small Branches may between 25 and 27 April in Darwin, which I also attended. During the find it more costly to establish and maintain democratic institutions. Executive Committee meeting, I explained in detail the aim behind In my first speech as Small Branches Chairperson, I spoke about the strategic plan for Small Branches, which is intended to span the next three years. Since I had already submitted this plan to the CPA Headquarters Secretariat, I gave an overview of what the Small Branches had in mind, particularly with regard to the feedback I had received and the discussions held during the webinars. In fact I also presented the Committee with the transcript of these webinars. During my intervention I emphasised that the Small Branches strategic plan aims to communicate the mission and work of the network of Small Branches to its own members and to the wider Association. Such a strategic plan should provide a framework for Small Branches to identify their achievements, strategically assess the challenges they encounter, build alliances, and undertake actions across the CPA and beyond. A survey of members attending the 35th Small Branches Conference in December 2016 highlighted various areas of thematic work for programmes for Small Branches. Amongst them are climate
“Of the over 180 Branches of the CPA, 43 are classified as Small Branches, which are defined as jurisdictions with a population below 500,000 people. In my new role, I intend to be the voice of the Small Branches within the wider Association and to discuss strategies to build capacities within Small Branches in all CPA programmes and initiatives.” 110 | The Parliamentarian | 2017: Issue Two