Turks and Caicos Hosts 45th Regional Conference for Parliamentarians in the Caribbean, Americas and Atlantic Region

By Dana Malcolm

Staff Writer 

#TurksandCaicos, July 27, 2023 – Togetherness and unity were running themes at the Official Opening Ceremony for the 45th Regional Conference of the Caribbean, Americas and Atlantic Region, for the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association held on Monday July 24th at The Shore Club.

The conference allows countries to liaise on the global issues affecting the region and decide together on how they will use the legislative power of parliament to tackle them together.

Gordon Burton, TCI Speaker of the House of Assembly said decisions made this week would also guide the regions collective approach at upcoming international conference in Accra, Ghana.

“We are small island states but together we have a voice that can resonate throughout the commonwealth and impact decisions made on a global scale. Over the course of the conference engagement and discussions on potential solutions will be a major focus,” he explained.

Acknowledging the small size that works against them in global settings, the group of countries is placing emphasis on creating a unified front.

Her Excellency Dileeni Daniel-Selvaratnam, Turks and Caicos Islands governor in citing the ongoing challenges which continue to impact the region including climate change and geopolitical tension, said the theme of resilience was especially well chosen.

Premier Washington Misick Urged the gathered delegates to use it as an opportunity to learn and maintained that resilience should be approached with adaptive leadership in mind.

“You are still very young and you are leaders in your own right, among you there are future premiers and future prime ministers so this conference should be seen as a place for you to learn from each other,[and]  to look at what we’re doing well,” said the premier.

Edwin Astwood, Opposition Leader, urged transformation through co-operation.

“In this region we should be supporting each other so that none of us break down while in search of our destiny,” he maintained.

Akierra Missick, Member of Parliament for Leeward and Long Bay in the TCI and a former deputy premier, urged the gathered parliamentarians to err on the side of honesty.

“Let us not grow weary in doing what is right for we will reap a harvest if we do not give up, so whenever we have an opportunity let us work for the good of all,” she quoted.

Each island state was greeted by TCI youngsters in the country’s national costume and escorted by the country’s young cadet members, dressed in their army fatigues.

Attending countries included Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Guyana, Jamaica, Montserrat, Nevis Island, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago, the United Kingdom, and the Turks and Caicos Islands.