The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) has launched a new CPA roadshow that will visit schools and universities across the Commonwealth countries to help increase young people’s awareness of parliament, parliamentary processes and democracy.
Hon. Shirley M. Osborne, Speaker of the Montserrat Legislative Assembly and Vice-chairperson of the CPA Executive Committee, has announced that the second CPA Roadshow will take place in Montserrat on Tuesday, March 29th at the Cultural Centre in Little Bay, during the visit of Mr.Karimulla Akbar Khan, the Secretary General of the CPA.
Youth Ambassadors from neighbouring Antigua and Barbuda have been invited to join their Montserratian peers. Eight ambassadors will be accompanied by an official from the Wadadli Youth Department of the Government of Antigua and Barbuda.
The CPA roadshows will provide an opportunity for young people to discuss the issue of concern for society and democracy. They will also be able to meet local members of parliament and parliamentary staffs to find out about the work of the CPA and the wider Commonwealth.
Speaker Osborne said: “I am delighted that Montserrat gets to host the CPA roadshow on behalf of the CPA on Tuesday. The CPA is an established organisation with a unique network of parliamentarians from over 180 Commonwealth parliaments and the CPA roadshow will engage young people in democracy.”
The first CPA Roadshow was held in Bangladesh earlier this year. On announcing the Roadshow, Hon. Dr. Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, Speaker of the Parliament of Bangladesh and also Chairperson of the CPA Executive Committee, said, “Young people are the future of the Commonwealth and the CPA is working to give young people a platform to raise a range of issues that impact their lives.”
The CPA Chairperson also said that the programme was launched with the aim of educating the young generation about the rule of law, how a state functions, democracy, basic rights, fundamental right and to increase interactions between the lawmakers and the young generation. “One of the objective of the CPA is to mobilise the youth,” she said.
The CPA roadshow will embark on visits to schools, colleges and universities across the nine regions of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and any teachers interested in hosting a visit can contact their local CPA branch.
