CPA ANNUAL REPORT AND PERFORMANCE REVIEW 2021
CPA Branch visits in 2021 Each year the CPA Secretary-General and members of the CPA Headquarters Secretariat staff undertake a number of Branch visits to Member Parliaments and Legislatures of the CPA to engage with Members of Parliament and parliamentary staff and to raise the profile of the CPA in different jurisdictions – however during 2021, the majority of these visits were unable to take place during the COVID-19 global pandemic.
CPA SECRETARY-GENERAL MEETS PARLIAMENTARY LEADERS IN JERSEY FOR FIRST ‘INPERSON’ VISIT The Secretary-General of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, Stephen Twigg, visited Jersey to meet the leaders of the States Assembly (the Parliament of Jersey) and attend the 64th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the CPA Jersey Branch. Due to COVID-19 travel restrictions, the trip was the first ‘in-person’ official visit that the CPA Secretary-General had been able to undertake since assuming the position on 1 August 2020. During the visit, which took place from 28 to 30 June 2021, the CPA Secretary-General watched proceedings at the States Assembly in Jersey’s capital St Helier, met with the Bailiff, Timothy Le Cocq, and the Chief Minister, Senator John Le Fondré, and attended a number of meetings with parliamentary leaders to discuss ongoing CPA and Commonwealth engagement with the Branch. The CPA Secretary-General also met with Jersey’s External Relations Minister, Senator Ian Gorst and the Jersey Overseas Aid Office. The CPA Secretary-General commented: “The CPA provides a wealth of opportunities for Members to build strong relationships with, and learn from, other Commonwealth jurisdictions in the promotion of parliamentary democracy. Being a member of the CPA and our Small Branches network presents a unique opportunity for Jersey to connect with the smallest jurisdictions in the Commonwealth that may face similar issues and opportunities. I was very pleased to undertake my first physical visit as CPA Secretary-General to the States Assembly and CPA Jersey Branch, at a particularly pertinent time as we celebrated International Day of Parliamentarism on 30th June. I enjoyed meeting with Jersey States Members during my visit and learning from their perspectives.” The Chair of the CPA Jersey Branch Executive Committee, Deputy Carolyn Labey, said, “The CPA provides fantastic opportunities to share ideas and discuss best practices on the global stage. Jersey benefits hugely from its close links with the Commonwealth, and I am proud to lead the Island’s work in this field. Jersey is an active contributor to the CPA and achieves recognition for our efforts. I am looking forward to showcasing more of our Island’s achievements and learning from others in the year to come.”
CPA DEPUTY SECRETARY-GENERAL ATTENDS ISLE OF MAN’S TYNWALD DAY CEREMONY
The CPA Deputy Secretary-General, Mr Jarvis Matiya, visited the Isle of Man to
take part in the Annual Tynwald Day celebrations. Mr Matiya joined Members and parliamentary staff of the House of Keys and Legislative Council, dignitaries, the judiciary, the clergy and the general public to celebrate the National Day of the Isle of Man. HRH The Princess Royal presided over the 2021 event, which saw a return to full proceedings after a scaled back event in 2020 due to the pandemic. Usually celebrated on 5th July every year, the ancient Tynwald Day has been celebrated for over 1000 years and involves a sitting of the Tynwald (Parliament) that takes place in the Royal Chapel of St John and outside near Tynwald Hill. At the sitting of the Tynwald, twenty acts were promulgated as per the Isle of Man’s Statutes. Whilst on the Island, the CPA Deputy Secretary-General also toured the Legislative Chambers and met with the President of Tynwald and Legislative Council and the Speaker of the House of Keys. The CPA Deputy Secretary-General commented: “It is a pleasure to be able to celebrate Tynwald Day with the CPA Isle of Man Branch and others. As my first in-person CPA Branch visit since February 2020, it is excellent to be able to take part in such a special and longstanding tradition of the Commonwealth’s oldest continuous parliamentary body. It is fascinating to see the rich Manx history celebrated in modern life, showcasing principles of openness, democracy and good governance. The interaction and closeness between the legislature (and other branches of government) on one hand and the people on the other is striking.” Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Annual Report and Performance Review 2021 | 53
