Commonwealth parliamentarians can, by working together, ‘revive the spirit of democracy’ the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Secretariat’s director of programmes Meenaksi Dhar has said.
Ms Dhar was speaking at the CPA Isle of Man branch dinner held at the Isle of Man College on Wednesday March 4th, ahead of Commonwealth Day on Monday March 9th.
Guests, including President of Tynwald Clare Christian, Speaker of the House of Keys Steve Rodan SHK, CPA Isle of Man branch chairman Hon Juan Watterson MHK and Tynwald members, heard Ms Dhar say: ‘We at the CPA Secretariat know we can count on the Isle of Man branch.’
She praised the Isle of Man for its leading role as a ‘very active’ small branch member, notably through sharing its expertise in matters of oversight and governance, which was helping to strengthen parliamentary democracy. ‘Developments in communications technology mean the public today have greater access to information and are far more discerning about whom they choose to elect. This places parliaments and parliamentarians under increasing scrutiny and so demands greater transparency. Every legislature – even the most established – is looking at ways to evolve and develop best practice; the sharing of information, ideas and experience is critical in this. Facilitating this process is one of the key strengths of the CPA,’ she said.
Ms Dhar, who has worked with the United Nations, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, likened the Commonwealth, which numbered some 2.2 billion people, to a ‘global village’ with the power to create better mutual understanding between member nations ‘held together by historic ties and cultural values.’
She said: ‘As we live in an era of changing economic circumstances and uncertainty, unprecedented threats to peace and security, and a surge in popular demands for democracy, human rights and economic opportunities, the potential of and need for the Commonwealth has never been greater.’
Mr Watterson said: ‘It was a pleasure to welcome Ms Dhar to the Isle of Man and to hear her insightful observations, not only about the work of the CPA in advancing parliamentary democracy – in particular the significant role the Isle of Man is playing in this - but also in promoting the increasing relevance of the Commonwealth in a changing geopolitical landscape. The CPA provides excellent opportunities for parliamentarians to learn from best practice in other jurisdictions; from women’s issues to effectiveness in public accounts committees, the Isle of Man has played its part in teaching others and is also learning from the wider Commonwealth community.’
Photo - Meenaksi Dhar with the President of Tynwald Clare Christian. (Photo Paul Dougherty, Tynwald Seneschal).
