(EDITOR’S NOTE: The Hon. Pia T. Glover-Rolle, Minister of Labour and the Public Service, recently led a Bahamas delegation to the 147th Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) General Assembly held in Luanda, Angola. She posted a report on the trip on Facebook that I decided to share as a GUEST COMMENTARY with readers of my online publication, BAHHAMAS CHRONICLE, which has a huge following among the Bahamian Diaspora across the United States as well as in The Bahamas and the wider Caribbean.)
GUEST CMMENTARY: BY PIA T. GLOVER ROLLE
NASSAU, Bahamas, October 29, 2023 –From 23rd-27th October, I had the honour of leading The Bahamas delegation to the 147th Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) General Assembly held in Luanda, Angola. This marked a significant milestone for The Bahamas, as our country became on official member of the IPU in June of this year, becoming the 180th country to be part of this esteemed union. As the leader of the delegation, I had the privilege of addressing the General Assembly on behalf of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas.
Accompanying me on this important journey were, Vice President of the Senate, Hon. Barry Griffin; Opposition Senator, Hon. Maxine Seymour; Assistant House Clerk, Rashad Flowers; and Executive Assistant to the Minister, Mario Almanzar. Together, we represented the diverse voices and perspectives of our nation’s parliament.
The IPU serves as a crucial platform for parliaments around the world to come together and collaborate on matters of global significance. It emphasizes the importance of parliamentary cooperation, promoting dialogue and exchange of best practices to advance our respective countries.
During the General Assembly, we had the opportunity to engage with parliamentarians from various nations, forging insightful connections and networks that will undoubtedly contribute to the development of our country. Also, I had the honor of being appointed as one of the two Internal Auditors for the International Parliamentary Union Governing Council for the next two years. In addition, I was invited by the President of the National Assembly, the Hon. Carolina Cerqueira. to chair the General Assembly’s afternoon session on Wednesday, 25th October.
Another particularly notable moment was when Senator the Hon. Barry Griffin had the privilege of addressing the assembly on behalf of the Young Parliamentarians under 45. This provided a unique avenue for our nation’s vibrant and talented young leaders to showcase their perspectives and ideas, fostering a sense of inclusivity and ensuring that the youth’s voices are heard on the global stage.
Our visit to Luanda proved to be both productive and meaningful. We were able to share our experiences and learn from the successes of other nations through a number of courtesy calls and various meetings. In an aim to leverage the best practices discussed during the General Assembly, we aim to implement innovative strategies and policies that will contribute to the advancement of our country and the well-being of our citizens.
In conclusion, our participation in the 147th IPU General Assembly in Luanda, Angola, was a significant step for The Bahamas as a member of the IPU. The event highlighted the importance of parliamentary collaboration and the exchange of ideas on a global scale. The connections and networks established during this visit will undoubtedly contribute to the growth and development of our great nation. We look forward to continuing our active engagement with the IPU and working alongside parliaments around the world to achieve greater prosperity and progress for all.
The 148th session of IPU is scheduled for 23th – 27th March, 2024 in Geneva, Switzerland.
