The Executive Committee of the Isle of Man branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) has selected two young people from the Isle of Man to attend this year’s CPA Headquarters Secretariat’s Observance of Commonwealth Day in London on Monday March 9th.
Laura Green, 22, from Port St Mary and Clare Harris, 18, from Colby, will join around 1000 other young people attending the Commonwealth Day celebrations, the theme for which is ’A Young Commonwealth’.
The day’s proceedings will include discussions on the Commonwealth and the CPA with UK and visiting parliamentarians, followed by the Observance Day service in Westminster Abbey, traditionally attended by Her Majesty The Queen as Head of the Commonwealth, together with all Commonwealth High Commissioners in London. The day will conclude with a reception hosted by the Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma at Marlborough House, headquarters of the Commonwealth Secretariat.
As part of the selection process applicants were asked to set out in 100 words what they believed they would gain from the experience and how the Isle of Man would benefit from their attendance.
In her submission Miss Green, a former Castle Rushen High School student, now studying for a Masters Degree in International Law at The Hague, wrote: ‘As a Manx student I could bring my interest in inter-state relationships, with my international background, to the Island’s delegation for the day. Last year I led a European advocacy project of the NGO Geneva Call, liaising with MEPs towards the passing of a recommendation at the parliament which linked humanitarian issues with parliamentary democracy both within Europe and further afield. Building on my experience with Simon Maddrell’s sand dam project in Kenya, the day would allow me to share ideas with other young people from across the Commonwealth.’
In her application Castle Rushen High School student Miss Harris, who has previously taken part in a sitting of Junior Tynwald, wrote that she would be ‘a positive ambassador for the Isle of Man’. She continued: ‘Through attending this event I would gain a greater understanding of the Commonwealth’s aims, and the Isle of Man’s role in this. I also hope to develop an appreciation of the diversity and unity of the Commonwealth by interacting with other young people at the event.’
On learning that she had been selected Miss Green said: ‘This will be a great opportunity to meet and share ideas with other students from across the world, to learn about the politics and values of the Commonwealth and the role that it plays globally. I would like to thank the Isle of Man Branch of the CPA for selecting me for such an interesting and prominent event.’
Miss Harris said: ‘I am delighted to have been chosen to represent the Island at the Commonwealth Observance Day. I am sure the event will be both thought-provoking and illuminating and I look forward to interacting with the other representatives.’
CPA Isle of Man branch chairman Hon Juan Watterson MHK said: ‘For this year’s Observance Day proceedings to be taking as its theme “A Young Commonwealth” could not be more appropriate, given that more than 60 per cent of the Commonwealth’s citizens are under the age of 30.
‘“A Young Commonwealth” will serve to recognise the important contribution young people - with their new perspectives and ideas - can make in helping to redefine and shape the role of the Commonwealth for the 21st century and beyond.
‘The theme also complements some of the CPA’s main objectives, namely to connect with young people, demonstrate to them the enduring relevancy of the Commonwealth – never more so than in these times of geopolitical tension - and promote its unshakeable values of democracy. I am confident that not only will Clare and Laura learn much from their experience but also that, in the longer term, the institution of the Commonwealth will benefit substantially from giving a voice to the young people of the Commonwealth family.’
