FirstReading

News from the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Issue 11/December 2006 ISSN 1743-0453

The Secretary-General’s File Benchmarks for democratic On December 31st 2006 I complete my five-year term as Secretary-General of the parliamentary performance Commonwealth Parliamentary Associa- tion, so this is my final contribution to First Reading. What can I look back on? We have made significant progress as the professional association of Common- wealth MPs by improving communica- tions with Members and expanding opportunities for them to participate in Association programmes and services. This newsletter is one small example of our improved communications. As Members gain greater access to electron- ic communications, we have also invest- ed heavily in providing on our new web- site more information of a higher quality about our Parliaments. And we have pro- vided much more information about what we do for Members. Descriptions of our programmes and the findings of our work- The CPA Study Group on “Benchmarks for Democratic ” with Members from the Parliament of . ing parties and study groups, as well as electronic copies of many of our publica- Democratic standards which all regions, with Australia, India and South- tions are instantly accessible. Commonwealth Parliaments and East Asia not able to participate. The A brief look at the programmes and Legislatures should strive to achieve, Members were advised by CPA Secretary- publications on our website indicates we including parliamentary control of House General Hon. Denis Marshall, QSO, and a now have much greater outreach and we budgets and agendas, have been recom- team of representatives from the European work with a much wider network of orga- mended by a Commonwealth Parliamen- Parliament, the United States National nizations supporting our Parliaments tary Association (CPA) Study Group. Democratic Institute for International than ever before. Members may feel ner- The CPA Study Group on “Benchmarks Affairs (NDI), the United Nations vous about our working with the WTO, for Democratic Legislatures”, which met in Development Programme (UNDP) and the World Bank Institute (WBI), UNDP, IPU or Bermuda from 30 October to 3 November, World Bank Institute (WBI). individual country development organi- agreed democratic standards for parlia- The Bermuda Group, which met with the zations. But a fact of life is that many of mentary practices ranging from the func- support of the Parliament of Bermuda, these organizations have more resources tions and administration of Houses, to the went through the parliamentary process, than we will ever have and one way to roles of parties and individual Members recommending such representational influence development of democracy is to and guidelines on ethical performance and benchmarks as keeping limitations on eli- work with others in the same business. accountability. gibility for office to a strictly defined mini- To promote better understanding of The Study Group was composed of mum. It acknowledged that “special what we do, the CPA has just published a senior Members from six of the CPA’s nine Please turn to page 3 booklet called “Delivering Development Published by the Commonwealth and Democracy – It’s Not Just Talk”. This In this issue Parliamentary Association Secretariat publication describes the focus of our New CPA Secretary-General . . . .2 Suite 700, Westminster House, 7 Millbank programmes across the range of activities CPA Conference ...... 4 London SW1P 3JA, agreed by our Executive Committee over New CPA Officers ...... 6 Fijian democracy falls ...... 7 Phone +44 207 799 1460 the past six or seven years. It makes Fax +44 207 222 6073 impressive reading and I urge Members Freedom of Information ...... 8 Email [email protected] Please turn to page 2

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The Secretary-General’s File Continued African appointed as to either obtain a copy from their Branch CPA Secretary-General Secretary or access it on the CPA website. There are two other publications due The Commonwealth Parliamentary out shortly as well. One is a book currently Association’s first African Secretary- entitled “The Budget Process – and General, Dr William F. Shija of Tanzania, Financial Oversight”, edited by David arrived in London in December to prepare McGee the author of The Overseers which is to assume the post to which he was now the standard international text on appointed by the CPA General Assembly. Public Accounts Committees. This new Dr Shija, a Member of the Tanzanian book will broaden the discussion of oppor- Parliament from 1990 to 2005 who held four tunities for Members to oversee every ministerial portfolios between 1990 and aspect of political life – not just PACs. The 1998, was appointed to a five-year term by other publication is “Benchmarks for the General Assembly at its September Democratic Legislatures”. This report, the meeting in Abuja, Nigeria. He was to for- result of a collaboration with other organi- mally assume the CPA post on 1 January fol- zations developing parliamentary democ- lowing the conclusion of the five-year term racy, describes basic standards, “bench- of Hon. Denis Marshall, QSO, of New Dr William F. Shija. marks”, to which a can aspire. Zealand. There are many more publications The Tanzanian, who was also a Member representatives of their people. available to Members on the results of our of the Pan-African Parliament in 2004 and In accepting the appointment in Abuja, activities, not the least of which is a joint 2005, was nominated by the CPA Executive Dr Shija said it was encouraging that publication with the WBI on combating Committee which conducted a Commonwealth Parliamentarians present corruption which is, I am sad to say, still an Commonwealth-wide selection process. in Nigeria were committed to resolving the ongoing challenge throughout not only He takes over a Secretariat which runs pro- major challenges facing the world, includ- the Commonwealth but the whole world. grammes and services for the 177 ing the reduction of poverty and the elimi- Finally I would like to thank Members Parliaments and Legislatures in the nation of gender inequities. Sharing ideas and staff for their support during my time nations, states, provinces and of and experiences through CPA meetings in office. Our small Secretariat team has the Commonwealth. More than 350 repre- enable Parliamentarians to improve their been delivering up to three programmes a sentatives of those Assemblies constituted efforts to bring good governance to all month for Members as well as enhancing the General Assembly in Nigeria. They Commonwealth citizens and to deepen communications. We have embarked on a accepted Dr Shija’s nomination from the 35- public understanding of democratic gov- significant modernization process and Member Executive Committee which repre- ernment. increased our efficiency significantly. That sents all Commonwealth regions. Born in 1947, Dr Shija was a Tanzanian always produces its own stresses and Dr Shija becomes the fourth former civil servant and teacher who qualified in strains, particularly on staff who have had Parliamentarian to hold the CPA post. mass communications and journalism in to cope with new performance require- Previous former Members who held the India and the United States before going on ments and accountabilities in a relatively post were: Mr Marshall, a former New to teach communications in Tanzania. After short period. Change is not often easy to Zealand Minister; Mr Arthur Donahoe, QC, his election to Tanzania’s Parliament in cope with; but the CPA has changed signif- a former Speaker of the Nova Scotia House 1990, he became Minister for Science, icantly and successfully and is in excellent of Assembly, and the late Hon. David Technology and Higher Education. He later shape to celebrate its centenary in 2011. Tonkin, a former South Australian Premier. held the ministerial portfolios of I wish my successor, Dr William Shija, a Two previous CPA Secretaries-General, Sir Information and Broadcasting, Energy and former Minister in Tanzania, every success Robin Vanderfelt and the late Sir Howard Minerals, and Industries and Trade and also in the post. With his experience in commu- D’Egville, came from United Kingdom served as a Regional Commissioner. nications and human resource manage- administrative backgrounds. After leaving cabinet, he chaired ment he is well equipped to continue to Hon. Hashim Abdul Halim, MLA, Parliament’s Standing Committee on strengthen the CPA both as an institution Chairman of the CPA Executive Committee Foreign Affairs from 1999 to 2005. At the and an organization dedicated to advanc- and Speaker of the West Bengal Legislative Pan-African Parliament, he chaired the ing parliamentary democracy throughout Assembly in India, said Dr Shija has the par- Committee on Education, Culture, Tourism the Commonwealth. liamentary and international experience to and Human Resources. direct Commonwealth programmes to Dr Shija is married and has five children, assist Parliamentarians to become better two of whom have joined him in London.

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measures” may at times be necessary to It also advocated codes of conduct, includ- Parliamentary encourage the political participation of cer- ing rules on conflicts of interest and the tain groups; but it concluded that any posi- acceptance of gifts, and the full and public management tive discrimination measures should be disclosure of Members’ private financial “narrowly drawn to accomplish precisely interests. Commonwealth Parliaments should defined, and time-limited, objectives”. The International organizations, particularly establish their own corporate bodies to Group called for Houses to provide appro- donor agencies, have been pressing for manage their Houses, agreed partici- priate remuneration and staff support to standards for democratic governance to pants at the CPA African Regional enable Members to perform their duties. It guide them in creating programmes to Workshop on “The Administration and also backed the recommendation of a pre- improve the performance and effectiveness Financing of Parliament” held in vious CPA Study Group when it endorsed of Parliaments and Legislatures through- September in Mauritius. the concept of Parliament controlling its out the world. At the Commonwealth The workshop, hosted by the own budget and particularly retaining par- Parliamentary Conference in Canada in Parliament of Mauritius from 18 to 22 liamentary control over its own staff. 2004, delegates argued that Parliamentar- September and held in partnership with In examining the organization of legisla- ians must be involved in any such drafting the World Bank Institute, endorsed the tive time, the Group concluded that process to ensure standards conform to the 2005 report of the CPA Zanzibar Study Parliament should have procedures to call needs and experiences of Members. The Group on the subject which recommend- itself into regular or special sessions, and CPA and the WBI then hosted a meeting of ed that Parliaments remove their finances that the executive should also have a pro- 15 national and international agencies in and their administration from executive cedure to call a special session. The Group Washington, D.C., to discuss the develop- control. [See “Caymanian Legislature” on page also took the position that a House should ment of benchmarks for parliamentary per- 6.)The Mauritius follow-up workshop be able to amend its own agenda. formance and the CPA and the WBI agreed heard that Parliaments managed by their Turning to committees, it was recom- to bring a select group of MPs together to own corporate bodies are better able to mended that government and opposition draft them. provide adequate resources to meet par- parties should be allocated seats on com- International guidelines have been liamentary priorities. mittees in proportion to their representa- developed for election administration, but The workshop urged the CPA to pro- tion in the House, and that there should be the Bermuda Study Group recognized that mote parliamentary financial autonomy a clearly defined and transparent process credible elections alone do not ensure that and improve executive understanding of for electing Members to chair committees, a Parliament will fulfil its oversight, legisla- its proper relationship with Parliament. including the election of an opposition tive and representative functions. Eleven Members and five Clerks from Member to chair the Public Accounts In developing the Commonwealth eight African Branches attended. Committee. The Group also held that com- benchmarks, the Group looked at USAID’s Participants said the importance of mittees should meet in public and that Handbook on Legislative Strengthening, the corporate bodies and the proper dis- provisions for closed meetings should be Inter-Parliamentary Union’s Parliament and charge of their responsibilities should be precisely defined. Committees should be Democracy in the Twenty-First Century – A Guide stressed to Members. Parliaments must able to employ expert advisors, and wit- to Good Practice and especially NDI’s Towards use their autonomy responsibly and be nesses appearing before them should have the Development of International Minimum fully open and accountable. The work- statutory protection for their testimony. Standards for Democratic Legislatures. It also shop recommended that the CPA assist The Group advocated House funding for looked at recommendations from the CPA’s Parliaments to set up and operate corpo- the parliamentary work of political parties Study Group on “The Financing and rate bodies by providing training and and further recommended that the funding Administration of Parliament”, held in information on suitable management formula should not unduly favour the Zanzibar, Tanzania, in May 2005 and at models, especially for human resources, majority party. best-practice guidelines on budget presen- and accountability mechanisms. A CPA In the area of oversight, the Group tations drafted in 2001 by the Organization manual on parliamentary corporate bod- called for time, opportunities and proce- for Economic Co-operation and ies is being produced. dures to ensure meaningful parliamentary Development. Hon. Jean Francois Chaumiere, MP, oversight of all areas of government, The Bermuda Group’s benchmarks were Mauritius’ Deputy Speaker, hosted a din- including the security services and state- subsequently assessed by a Clerk and a for- ner for workshop participants. Adminis- owned enterprises, and full oversight of mer Clerk with many years of experience in trative support for the workshop was pro- government expenditure. two different Parliaments. vided by Mr Ranjit Dowlutta, Clerk of the In dealing with the accountability of The benchmarks have been published in National Assembly and his staff, includ- Parliament to the people, the Group called booklet for by the UNDP and the CPA and ing Deputy Clerk Mrs Safeena Lotun and for full media access to parliamentary pro- are available on the CPA website at Mr Bhupen Dwarka, Adviser to the ceedings and the provision of assistance to www.cpahq.org. They will also be pub- Speaker and former Deputy Clerk. the media to understand parliamentary lished in full in Issue One/2007 of The The African workshop will be followed developments and the process in general. Parliamentarian. in 2007 by an Asian Regional Workshop.

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52nd Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference – Nigeria

Emir, the traditional ruler of the town Denis Marshall, QSO, and Commonwealth founded in the sixteenth century, and its Secretary-General Rt Hon. Don McKinnon current political ruler, Kaduna state execu- on current issues facing the CPA and the tive Governor, H.E. Mohammed Ahmed Commonwealth respectively. They also Makarfi, who hosted a lunch for the visi- answered a series of questions from tors. Members The conference discussions, chaired by In officially opening the conference, Hon. Aminu Bello Masari, MP, Speaker of H.E. Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, President Nigeria’s House of Representatives, called of Nigeria and the 2006 Vice-Patron of the for Commonwealth nations to take steps to CPA, said his country had moved from reduce gender-based inequities and being a pariah state to become a responsi- increase the representation of women in ble member of the international communi- political, social and economic decision- ty in seven years of democratic government making. Women already in Parliaments because all Nigerians and Nigerian institu- Parliamentary should work with leading women in their tions, including its National Assembly, are communities and serve as role models to working together to develop Africa’s most partnerships for increase the number of women in populous country. He urged Commonwealth Parliaments and Parliamentarians attending the conference development Legislatures, said delegates. from Commonwealth national, state, At a meeting of the CPA Executive provincial and territorial Assemblies to Committee at the beginning of the confer- help each other find effective ways to deep- Improved policies to tackle gender ence, the Committee supported gender en the democratic ethos in Nigeria and inequality, poverty, corruption, HIV/AIDS equity by recommending that all around the world. and other global problems can best be Parliaments and Legislatures use gender- As well as discussing gender inequality, developed by Parliamentarians working in neutral language. The Committee also poverty and corruption, the conference partnership with civil society, non-govern- decided to recommend amending the CPA also examined ways to curb domestic vio- mental organizations and governments, Constitution in 2007 to change the title of lence, deal with security threats posed by argued delegates at the 52nd its Chairman to Chairperson. unregulated migration, reduce the detri- Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference. In plenary and workshop debates, mental effects of climate change, reform More than 350 Members participating in Parliamentarians agreed that partnerships parliamentary democracy and improve a week of discussions in September in with civil society groups would be particu- accountability for public spending. Abuja, hosted by the National Assembly of larly valuable in helping them contribute to A two-day conference of about 70 Nigeria, agreed Parliamentarians are well combating poverty and corruption. Members from the Commonwealth’s small- placed to mobilize their communities to Working with civil society groups would est jurisdictions, those with fewer than help identify the sources of and solutions ensure Members are fully aware of pro- 400,000 people, discussed climate change to the obstacles impeding development for grammes which are not working, policies and three other subjects. The conference the 30 per cent of the world’s people who which are not prioritized to combat pover- called on Parliamentarians throughout the live in the Commonwealth. ty, and government service delivery which Commonwealth to press the major world The conference, the main event in the is undermined by corruption. powers to implement policies to reduce CPA’s annual calendar, ran from 1 to 10 The conference was preceded by the greenhouse gas emissions and thereby September in Abuja, in the geographic cen- 26th Commonwealth Parliamentary begin to reverse the negative effects of cli- tre of Nigeria, Africa’s most populous Conference of Members from Small mate change, especially the threat to sever- nation. It included a visit to Zaria, north of Countries and a meeting of the Common- al small states posed by rising sea levels. the Nigerian capital in the state of Kaduna, wealth Women Parliamentarians Steering The Small Countries Conference also where participants saw a little of the Committee. The CPA General Assembly, called for small states to be treated more vibrant politics of Nigeria when they were the Association’s supreme governing body, fairly in terms of the globalization policies the special guests at a Durbar, a spectacu- met during the conference and a meeting of such intergovernmental organizations as lar display of Hausa horsemanship and cul- of the Society of Clerks-at-the-Table ran the World Trade Organization. In their own ture for the Emir of Zazzau, His Highness alongside some conference sessions. discussion of the threats posed by unregu- Alhaji Shehu Idris. This flamboyant Conference discussions began with lated migration, the small countries agreed pageant was presented before both the addresses by CPA Secretary-General Hon. that they need to develop legislative and

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Committee also reviewed programmes to support Members and Commonwealth ary Conference – Nigeria Assemblies, including: Post-Election Seminars in Uganda, Fiji Islands and Montserrat; workshops with such intergov- ernmental organizations as the World CPA practices to Trade Organization, the World Bank be reviewed Institute and UNIFEM; a Caribbean Freedom of Information Workshop partly A complete reassessment of certain CPA funded by the Canadian International practices, including the funding of travel to Development Agency; a Study Group on the annual Commonwealth Parliamentary “Benchmarks for Democratic Legislatures” Conference and the costs of hosting it, is to to be held in Bermuda, and a Technical be conducted by a panel of Members repre- Assistance Programme to provide common senting all Commonwealth regions. Standing Orders to the Parliaments of the Accepting a proposal from the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States. Chairman of the Executive Committee, The Committee agreed to fund part of Hon. Hashim Abdul Halim, MLA, Speaker the cost of an exceptional meeting of the of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly, Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians the Committee agreed at its September Steering Committee. The meeting would meeting in Abuja, Nigeria, to set up a be held in early 2007 in Johannesburg, Working Party of Committee Members to South Africa, in partnership with the review the format, length and costs of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature, the House CPA 2006 President Hon. Aminu Bello Masari, MP, Speaker of the Nigerian House conference. The practices of having Host of which the CWP Chairperson, Hon. of Representatives. Branches finance the local costs and the Lindiwe Maseko, MPL, is a Member. CPA contribute to the cost of travel to the Funding for these other CPA projects administrative controls to secure their bor- conference for all official delegates and and services was approved for 2007, with ders while still respecting the human rights secretaries are both to be reviewed. spending for the coming year set to exceed of irregular migrants. A discussion of the The new Working Party will look at pro- £2.6 million, approximately £230,000 more effects of youth crime on small communi- posals to introduce a registration fee than income as the Association continues ties led to proposals to curb anti-social payable by each Commonwealth Parlia- to spend reserves accumulated over sever- behaviour by developing effective commu- mentary Conference delegate and secre- al years. The General Assembly approved a nity services, including the provision of tary. The review of travel costs will consider fee increase of 2.2 per cent for 2008 when good education, to attract young people whether the CPA should continue to use the Association is projected to resume away from a life of crime. Branch membership fees to pay the cost of accumulating small annual surpluses. Reports of both conferences were pub- flying delegations to the conference from The General Assembly also approved lished in Issue Four/2006 of The Parliamen- each member Parliament and Legislature. the appointment of Deloitte & Touche to tarianand posted on the CPA website. The Working Party, which is to meet in audit the CPA accounts. Commonwealth Parliamentarians in Cyprus in April 2007 before the CPA Two new Legislatures were admitted to Abuja commended the government, Executive Committee meeting there, will the CPA, both of them Nigerian states. The National Assembly and people of Nigeria also review the CPA Strategic Plan, the Executive Committee and the General for the great strides Nigeria has made since international status of the Association and Assembly welcomed the Legislative ending military rule in 1999. Members the recruitment process for hiring Assemblies in Adamawa and Ebonyi to the noted Nigeria is now enjoying its longest Secretaries-General. The current five-year CPA. Thirty-one of the 36 Nigerian state period of democratic rule since indepen- Strategic Plan expires at the end of 2007. Legislatures now have active CPA member- dence. On the trip to Zaria, Members The Working Party is to be composed of ships. The other five were suspended for noted that campaign posters and wall Shri Halim, Treasurer Mr David Marshall, failure to pay their fees. Some Nigerian murals had already started to appear in MP, of the United Kingdom, Hon. Lindiwe state Legislatures have experienced diffi- preparation for national and state elec- Maseko, MPL, of Gauteng as Chairperson culties obtaining funds from their state tions throughout Nigeria in mid 2007. of the Commonwealth Women Parliamen- governments. Nigeria’s national and state The 2007 Commonwealth Parliamentary tarians and 10 Regional Representatives, governments are not composed of Conference will be held in New Delhi host- one from each CPA region except Africa Members of their respective Assemblies in ed by the , while the which as a large region will have two. the country’s congressional system. 54th Conference in 2008 will be in Kuala The last similar review of CPA practices The General Assembly appointed a new Lumpur hosted by the Parliament of was conducted in 2003. CPA Secretary-General (see page 2) and Malaysia. At its Abuja meeting, the Executive elected new Executive Committee Members.

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New CPA Officers elected

Senior Members of the Parliaments of India, Malaysia, Executive Committee. The elections took place at the the United Kingdom and Lesotho have been elected as CPA General Assembly on 9 September in Abuja. Shri the CPA’s President, Vice-President, Treasurer and Vice- Chatterjee succeeded Hon. Aminu Bello Masari, MP, Chairperson respectively. Speaker of the Nigerian House of Representatives. Hon. Somnath Chatterjee, MP, Speaker of the Lok The President and Vice-President serve one-year terms Sabha of India, was elected as President of the while Mr Marshall’s term is three years. The terms began Association for the coming year as his Parliament will at the conclusion of the General Assembly, which was host the 53rd Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference Hon. Somnath composed of approximately 350 Members of in September 2007. He had Chatterjee, MP. Commonwealth Parliaments been CPA Vice-President. The and Legislatures. new Vice-President is Hon. Tan Sri Dato’ Hon. Hashim Abdul Halim, MLA, Seri Di Raja Ramli Ngah Talib. MP, Speaker Speaker of the West Bengal Legislative of the Dewan Rakyat, Malaysia’s lower Assembly, continues as Chairperson of House. Malaysia will host the the CPA Executive Committee. The Association’s conference in 2008. Mr David Committee also elected Hon. Ntlhoi A. Marshall, MP, who has represented a Motsamai, MP, Speaker of the Lesotho Glasgow constituency in the U.K. House of National Assembly, as its Vice- Commons since 1979, was elected as the Chairperson for the coming year. She is Mr David Marshall, MP. CPA’s Treasurer on the nomination of the also an African Regional Representative. Hon. Ntlhoi Motsamai, MP. Independence for realm of the Legislative Assembly with The Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha respect to decisions made affecting its both approved the Bill in late August to Caymanian human resource, finance and information give effect to a resolution passed by the ter- technology needs”. ritory’s Legislative Assembly in 1980. Legislature “The new commission’s constitution Introduced by the Union Minister of will guarantee that the best interests of State for Home, Shri S. Regupathy, the The Legislative Assembly of the Cayman both sides of the House are taken into con- Pondicherry (Alteration of Name) Bill, Islands moved in November to separate sideration when decisions are made, as 2006, was passed without opposition. itself from the executive by agreeing that a well as assure that such decision-making is The discussion, which took place in the commission chaired by the Speaker should not swayed by external influences,” he said, Tamil language of southern India, also saw control its finances and administration. adding the move has the support of some Members seeking full statehood for Noting that a CPA Study Group on “The Speaker Hon. Edna Moyle and that it will the . The lone Member of the Lok Financing and Administration of Parlia- follow a 1990 model set by Barbados. Sabha from Pondicherry, Shri M. ment” had recommended Parliaments and The CPA Study Group, which had World Ramadass, MP, of the Pattali Makkal Katchi, Legislatures should be independent of Bank Institute support, was sited in argu- said the territory had waited far too long to executive control, Members of the ments for the separation of the legislative revert to its old name. Shri Santosh Assembly voted on 6 November for a and executive arms of government, a prin- Gangwar, MP, of the Bharatiya Janata Party motion to remove the Assembly from the ciple recommendation of the Group which urged the Indian government to introduce portfolio of Internal Affairs and the Civil met in Zanzibar in 2005. legislation to return all Indian places to Service. The portfolio is held by the Chief “Such separation will give credence to their historic names. Secretary, an Official Member of the the integrity of Parliament as an indepen- Assembly and of cabinet who is appointed dent body,” said Mr McCarthy. Involving Pacific by the British overseas dependency’s Autonomy would allow the Assembly to Governor. Once the move is approved by draw on improved staff, information tech- islands in world cabinet, the Assembly’s budget and admin- nology and financial resources. istration will be controlled by a new trade Legislative Assembly Management Reviving a historic Commission composed of government and Commonwealth Pacific islands could opposition Members and chaired by the Indian name seek observer status at the World Trade Assembly’s Speaker. Organization if full membership is too Chief Secretary George McCarthy said in The Parliament of India has finally legis- expensive, agreed Parliamentarians the Assembly that the House now “is very lated to return the union territory of Pon- attending a CPA/WTO Regional Trade much dependent on forces outside the dicherry to its original name, Puducherry. Workshop held in Fiji Islands in October.

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Fijian democracy falls again

Fiji Islands lost its elected government promised new elections would come later. and Parliament in a 5 December military The coup was condemned by Australia, coup as the Pacific island nation’s military New Zealand, the United Kingdom, United Chief of Staff intervened in politics for the Nations Secretary-General H.E. Kofi Annan second time in six years. and Commonwealth Secretary-General Rt Troops removed the government of Prime Hon. Don McKinnon. Minister Hon. Laisenia Qarase, the man The membership of the Fijian Parliament installed to head the interim government in the Commonwealth Parliamentary when Commodore Frank Bainimarama inter- Association went into abeyance. vened in politics in 2000. The Commodore On 8 December, an emergency meeting of later accused the government of corruption, the Commonwealth Ministerial Action unfairly favouring Melanesian over Indian Group (CMAG) “unanimously and unequivo- Ousted Prime Minister Qarase. Fijians and planning to pardon those cally” condemned the military takeover as a involved in the 2000 uprising. defuse ethnic tensions . He expressed con- serious violation of the Commonwealth’s Mr Qarase was banished to his home cern the legislation would be used to grant fundamental principles, as enshrined in the island, the Senate was stopped in the mid- amnesties to the 2000 coup leaders. Harare Commonwealth Declaration. It sus- dle of a debate condemning the coup and Prime Minister Qarase attacked Cmdr pended Fiji Islands’ military regime from the Parliament was dissolved. Several senior Bainimarama for meddling in politics and Councils of the Commonwealth, pending civil servants, including the Clerk of tried unsuccessfully to remove him from his the restoration of democracy and the rule of Parliament, were removed from office. post. As coup fears grew, in November the law. Fiji will not be invited to Common- The Parliament of Fiji Islands hosted the Prime Minister announced the reconcilia- wealth intergovernmental meetings. 51st Commonwealth Parliamentary tion legislation would be amended to Existing technical assistance will continue Conference in September 2005 as a demon- remove the amnesty provisions, although it but the only new aid would be assistance stration of the country’s commitment to par- was later revealed that amnesties could still aimed at restoring civilian democratic rule. liamentary government. The Fijian govern- be granted under existing legislation. CMAG, chaired by on Hon. Dr Michael ment had also hosted a number of The military chief also criticized the gov- Frendo, MP, Maltese Minister of Foreign Commonwealth and regional events after ernment for alleged corruption and crony- Affairs, and composed of eight other Foreign Fiji returned to elected government in 2001 . ism and removed Mr Qarase from office, Ministers, called for the immediate restora- Unlike Fiji’s first coup in 1987 and the declaring himself President and appointing tion of constitutional democratic rule and upheaval of 2000, this year’s coup was not former army doctor Dr Jona Baravilala urged Commonwealth nations to press Fiji directed at a government dominated by Senilagakali, as Prime Minister at the head to resume democratic governance. Australia Fijians of Indian descent. But it was linked of an interim government. He promised to and New Zealand imposed travel and other to the 2000 unrest as Cmdr Bainimarama ask the Great Council of Chiefs, Fiji’s tradi- sanctions on the military regime. Mr had openly criticized the government over tional Melanesian leadership, to re-instate McKinnon was reportedly using his good reconciliation legislation proposed to President H.E. Ratu Josefa Iloilo and he offices to press for a return to democracy.

Approximately 30 participants including WTO facilities including its formal dispute Islands Forum’s Geneva Office and the Parliamentarians from the Pacific region, settlement provisions and technical assis- Commonwealth Secretariat “Hubs and CPA and WTO staff, guest speakers and tance. But full membership also entails Spokes” Project. In the Pacific, the Forum invited observer organizations, discussed financial and other obligations. Secretariat in Suva is the “hub” to co-ordi- ways for more Pacific Forum Island Members agreed that observer status is nate networks of analysts (“spokes”) cur- Countries (FICs) to participate in the world a low-cost option that opens some training rently attached to Trade Ministries in PNG, multilateral trading system. Fiji Islands, and technical assistance doors without Solomon Islands and Vanuatu. Papua New Guinea and the Solomon necessarily committing them to becoming Participants also agreed FICs should Islands are so far the only Commonwealth full members. make use of informal co-ordination with Pacific island nations to have joined the Speaking at the opening ceremony, CPA existing WTO members on issues of com- WTO, while Tonga has still to ratify its Secretary-General Hon. Denis Marshall, mon concern. membership and Samoa and Vanuatu have QSO, said, “Parliamentarians need to be The Workshop agreed that all FIC coun- applied for full membership. Six other informed about the role of institutions tries should be aware of WTO rules and Commonwealth Pacific island states are such as the WTO to appreciate the benefits principles since trade negotiations with not connected with the WTO. of liberalization of international trade.” their main export destinations are Members noted that full membership The Workshop also discussed the inevitably conducted in the technical lan- would give their countries access to all opportunities of making use of the Pacific guage of the WTO.

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Freedom of Commonwealth crime-fighting Information in the highlighted in Ottawa Caribbean The Commonwealth should pool its Caribbean countries should move experiences to identify successful strate- quickly to enact wide-ranging Freedom of gies to combat economic crime and to Information (FoI) legislation, a workshop of increase the representation of women in MPs, government officials and civil society Parliaments, agreed Members attending representatives from nine of the states the 5th Canadian Parliamentary Seminar. agreed in December in Dominica. Twenty-two delegates attending the The workshop, sponsored by the CPA seminar from all Commonwealth and the Canadian International Parliamentary Association (CPA) regions Development Agency (CIDA), urged coun- except the Pacific agreed that corruption tries to draft FoI legislation as soon as pos- and other forms of economic crime under- sible and include broad public consulta- mine development and parliamentary gov- tion in the drafting process as had been ernance. They called on the CPA to work done in the Cayman Islands. with Parliaments to identify the policies Workshop discussions also led some and practices which have worked in this participants to indicate they would draft area so all countries are aware of the best amendments to improve the legislation ways to protect resources from being Branches to nominate both male and their countries already have. siphoned off by illegal activities. female Members to attend. FoI regimes should cover as broad an The participants, meeting in Ottawa As well as attending 15 sessions, partici- area as possible: government departments from 22 to 27 October as guests of the CPA pants observed sittings of the Senate and all constitutional or statutory bodies, those and its Canadian Branch, also noted that House of Commons, including Question which are wholly or partly government many Parliaments are still far short of the Period which features questions without funded and bodies which are either per- Commonwealth goal of having women notice to the Prime Minister and any forming public functions or providing pub- occupy 30 per cent of their seats, originally Minister. They also were hosted by the lic utilities in a monopoly. In addition, gov- by 2005 and now by 2015. Methods in vari- Speaker of the Senate, Sen. the Hon. Noel ernments should also press for access to ous countries which have moved their Kinsella, and the Speaker of the House of information held by any international orga- Parliaments and Legislatures closer to gen- Commons, Hon. Peter Milliken, MP, and by nizations to which they belong. der equity should be highlighted to assist Canadian Branch Chairman and CPA Re- The workshop was attended by 46 par- all CPA Branches in raising the number of gional Representative Mr Russ Hiebert, MP. ticipants, including 16 Parliamentarians women MPs.The Canadian Parliamentary The seminar was organized by Ms Carol and representatives from government min- Seminar and some other CPA events pro- Chafe, Canadian Branch Secretary, and the istries and public groups. They met in mote gender equity by encouraging staff of the . Dominica’s House of Assembly from 27 November to 1 December. The Common- Rights Initiative has produced a guide to effective information regimes. Noting that wealth Human Rights Initiative, the Carter effective FoI regimes. the cost of FoI and of the proactive, regular Centre, the Organization of American Commonwealth Law Ministers recom- and voluntary disclosure of information is a States and the Parliament of Dominica mended in 1999 that all member nations concern, especially in small jurisdictions joined with the CPA and CIDA to put on the enact FoI regimes as part of their with limited resources, the workshop workshop. As well as Dominicans, partici- Commonwealth commitment to human argued that regular disclosure is less costly pants came from Antigua & Barbuda, rights and democratic governance. The than disclosures made in response to indi- Belize, Grenada, Jamaica, Guyana, St Kitts workshop also heard that a Caribbean vidual public requests. & Nevis, Saint Lucia and St Vincent and the Human Rights Treaty is being discussed The workshop was opened by Domini- Grenadines. throughout the region and it is expected to can Deputy Speaker, Hon. Ian Pinard, MHA, The Workshop was organized by the CPA encourage all states to adopt Freedom of and was attended by Prime Minister Hon. as part of its ongoing programme to pro- Information as a basic human right. Roosevelt Skerritt, MHA, and his cabinet mote open government through FoI legis- The workshop agreed 28 measures, who postponed a cabinet meeting to lation and improvements to Parliament’s posted on the CPA website, which should attend. The Speaker of the House of relations with the media. A 2004 CPA Study be covered in FoI legislation in the Assembly, Hon. Alix Boyd Knights, MHA, Group on “Access to Information” recom- Caribbean. They also suggested the the Clerk of the House of Assembly, Mrs mended measures to include in FoI legisla- region’s jurisdictions should share exper- Alex Phillip, and the staff of the Dominican tion and the Commonwealth Human tise to assist each other in establishing Parliament provided local support.

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