CPC will re-examine democracy – Barbados Speaker

Mr Arthur Holder, the Speak­er of the House of Assembly of Barbados, is hopeful the ongoing Commonwealth Par­liamentary Conference (CPC)in Accra, will help re-examine the principles that underpin democ­racy across the Commonwealth.

To him, conferences such as the CPC are to promote collaboration and the 66th one underway in Accra would not be different.

“It is a conference that will enhance democracy and promote collaboration among Commonwealth nations be­cause no country is an island,” he told journalists in an inter­view yesterday after the Execu­tive Committee meeting.

The conference, Mr Holder said would design modalities and policies to increase the num­ber of female lawmakers across the Commonwealth to give prop­er meaning to representation.

He said women constitute a very important component of the democratic structure and must be encouraged to take up political offices.

With a female population of nine in the 30-member House, Mr Holder said his country seeks to give more women the opportu­nity to meet the minimum 60:40 threshold.

In this regard, he said the Barbados government has delib­erately appointed majority of the nine female MPs into ministerial positions to encourage more women into politics.

“We are working hard to pro­mote gender equality and assist in getting more of them into the Assembly.

“I’m interested in gender equality and seeing more fe­males coming forward to contest election and this conference will be discussing that. I hope that at the end of it more women will make it to Parliament in our respective countries,” Mr Holder said.

He commended the Speak­er of Ghana’s Parliament for organising what he called “an exceptional conference.”

“Alban Bagbin must be given a special mention and praise in making sure that every member is available.The conference is the best since I started attending the CPA events. I want to personally congratulate him for making the conference possible and practi­cal for all delegates.

“I’m really impressed by the hospitality shown by the host branch in Ghana,” he said.

The conference has over 600 delegates attending from all 56 countries of the Common­wealth.

It is on the theme “The Commonwealth Charter 10 years on: Values and principles for parliaments to uphold”.