110 years of delivering a common future

Acting Chairperson of the CPA Executive Committee, Hon. Ian Liddell-Grainger, MP, Member of the Parliament of the United Kingdom

The Acting CPA Chairperson reflects on recent CPA activities and looks back at 110 years of 'delivering a common future'.

Over the past decade I have been actively involved with the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association at a Branch and Regional level and now as Acting CPA Chairperson. Whilst I assumed the role in extremely sad and unforeseen circumstances, I hope that I will be able to provide the necessary stewardship until the next CPA Chairperson is elected.

In writing my first View article for The Parliamentarian, I would like to first pay tribute to the late CPA Chairperson and Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly of Cameroon, Hon. Emilia Monjowa Lifaka, MP who sadly passed away on 20 April 2021. Hon. Lifaka’s passing came as a deep shock to the Association. Her passion for the CPA was unmatched and her tireless promotion of its work across the Commonwealth was clear in her several positions as CPA Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson and African Regional Representative. A formidable person, Hon. Lifaka was a powerful voice across Africa. Her passion for her work as a Parliamentarian and her commitment to all those she represented in her aspiration to deliver a common future was highlighted by her fierce championing for the rights of women. I was glad to have had the opportunity to work alongside her at previous CPA events and more recently, albeit virtually, at the Meeting of the CPA Executive Committee held in March 2021.

Hon. Lifaka’s presence and engagement at the CPA and within the wider Commonwealth will be greatly missed and I would like to extend my thanks to all those who have expressed condolences to the CPA, the Parliament of Cameroon and Hon. Lifaka’s family, friends and colleagues. Whilst the current restrictions in place prevented my travel to Cameroon, the CPA were ably represented at a session of parliamentary tributes to Hon. Lifaka and the funeral by Hon. Dr Zainab Gimba, MP, Vice-Chairperson of the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP) International and CWP Africa Chairperson, and Hon. Zakarayau Galadima, MP, CPA Nigeria Federal Branch Representative. A formal obituary and collated messages of condolence and respect from across the membership on the loss of Hon. Lifaka can be found within this issue.

As the CPA membership continues to bravely cope with the COVID-19 pandemic, the postponement of all physical programmatic activities and governance meetings has remained during this period. The CPA International Executive Committee Meeting in March 2021 agreed to further postpone the 65th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference from August 2021 to August 2022, taking place in Halifax, Canada.

In a similar move, the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) that had been set to take place in June 2021, has been further postponed to a future date. Whilst we may not be able to meet in person, the theme for the CHOGM meeting, ‘Delivering a Common Future: Connecting, Innovating, Transforming’ remains as relevant as ever, offering opportunities for the people, Parliaments, governments and institutions of the Commonwealth to connect, work together and evolve at many levels through far-reaching and deep-rooted networks of friendship and goodwill – an aim which we have held since the CPA’s inception.

Established on 18 July 1911 as the Empire Parliamentary Association and later as the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, the CPA celebrates its 110th anniversary this year. Throughout the Commonwealth’s history, the CPA has been a vital and vocal voice in the practice of democratic government and the language of parliamentary politics. The ideals on which the CPA was founded and the organisation’s commitment to its mission has been unwavering: “To promote knowledge of the constitutional, legislative, economic, social and cultural aspects of parliamentary democracy, with particular reference to the countries of the Commonwealth.” The overwhelming commonalities shared by the Members is timeless and has only strengthened over the years because of our adaptive power. Change in the form of cultural, social and technical adaptions have been imperative for the Association to deliver on its mandate and are essential during these uncertain times - from how we communicate and travel to the ways in which we legislate, represent and scrutinise our governments.

“Whilst we may not be able to meet in person, the theme for the CHOGM meeting, ‘Delivering a Common Future: Connecting, Innovating, Transforming’ remains as relevant as ever, offering opportunities for the people, Parliaments, governments and institutions of the Commonwealth to connect, work together and evolve at many levels through far-reaching and deep-rooted networks of friendship and goodwill – an aim which we have held since the CPA’s inception.”

Celebratory activities for this year’s Commonwealth Day on 8 March 2021 were also readily adapted by Parliaments (see page 184 for reports of CPA Branch activities to mark Commonwealth Day this year), however the message remains the same: for our organisation, it is a celebration of the CPA family’s unique connection of over 180 Commonwealth Parliaments and Legislatures, encompassing almost 2.4 billion people, coming together as a representation of our collective values. The CPA community has grown together in the last 110 years, cultivating a tremendous convening power, diversity of voices and experiences which we have used to address our mutual concerns and capitalise on our successes. This great potential held in working together to embrace and accomplish innovative changes is reflected in the CPA Strategic Plan 2022 – 2025, approved by the CPA International Executive Committee in March 2021. An ambitious, outward thinking and future-facing plan for the next four years, it looks to further democratic governance, accountability and parliamentary democracy through common values, the sharing of best practice and continued professional development.

Therefore, as well as looking back at its evolution and achievements, this year provides a valuable opportunity for the CPA to look forward and consider how the Commonwealth, Parliaments and democracy may evolve over the next 10, 50 and even 100 years and retain our shared principles, practices and knowledge. While the COVID-19 pandemic has raised great challenges, it has also allowed us to embrace new methods of communication and highlighted our ability to adapt to changing circumstances. The onset of the global pandemic has been a learning curve for Parliamentarians such as myself, across the Commonwealth and wider globe, navigating the digital and technological space that has initiated innovative change to modify our modes of working and made it possible for Parliaments to continue to function effectively and steer their jurisdictions through the pandemic.

To further examine these technological revolutions and in celebration of our anniversary, the CPA Secretariat will be hosting a virtual Conference on the ‘4th Industrial Revolution’, to be held between 5 and 9 July 2021. The largest virtual event the CPA has ever held, the conference will examine future evolutionary changes of the Commonwealth and Parliaments over time, analysing the impact of the ‘4th Industrial Revolution’ on current and future generations within and across the Commonwealth, and Parliaments. The Conference will include sessions on technologies such as blockchain and artificial intelligence, with a focus on their implications for democracy and governance. We will also be producing a commemorative e-book to mark our 110th anniversary which will focus on our member Legislatures and their rich histories.

I look forward to advancing the aims of the Association, working together with the CPA family and envisioning the next 110 years.