Speaker attends high-level Commonwealth conference
28-January-2014
The Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr Patrick Herminie, attended the Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth (CSPOC), held in Wellington, New Zealand from January 21 to 25, 2014.
The conference, which was officially opened by the Governor-General of New Zealand, Lt. Gen. the Right Hon. Sir Jerry Mateparae, saw the participation of over 50 Commonwealth jurisdictions.
Held every two years, the conference aims to maintain, foster and encourage impartiality and fairness on the part of speakers and presiding officers of parliaments; promote knowledge and understanding of parliamentary democracy in its various forms and develop parliamentary institutions.
Apart from reiterating the sanctity of the office of the speaker and the supreme political importance of parliaments, the speakers also lengthily deliberated on ways and means to connect parliament with the people through the use of social media and the internet.
Also discussed was the responsibility of members of parliament in exercising their constitutional parliamentary privileges and immunities and the right of the citizen to reply to any declarations deemed defamatory or offensive.
The conference further discussed the financial and administrative challenges faced by small parliaments.
Dr Herminie was accompanied by the Clerk of the National Assembly, Azarel Ernesta.
The conference, which was officially opened by the Governor-General of New Zealand, Lt. Gen. the Right Hon. Sir Jerry Mateparae, saw the participation of over 50 Commonwealth jurisdictions.
Held every two years, the conference aims to maintain, foster and encourage impartiality and fairness on the part of speakers and presiding officers of parliaments; promote knowledge and understanding of parliamentary democracy in its various forms and develop parliamentary institutions.
Apart from reiterating the sanctity of the office of the speaker and the supreme political importance of parliaments, the speakers also lengthily deliberated on ways and means to connect parliament with the people through the use of social media and the internet.
Also discussed was the responsibility of members of parliament in exercising their constitutional parliamentary privileges and immunities and the right of the citizen to reply to any declarations deemed defamatory or offensive.
The conference further discussed the financial and administrative challenges faced by small parliaments.
Dr Herminie was accompanied by the Clerk of the National Assembly, Azarel Ernesta.
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