The Secretary-General of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), Mr Akbar Khan is visiting the Isle of Man Branch of the CPA and Tynwald, the Island’s Parliament, for a two day visit (6th and 7th February).
During his visit to the Isle of Man, the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association will meet with the President of Tynwald, Hon. Stephen Rodan MLC and the Speaker of the House of Keys, Hon. Juan Watterson SHK, at the Legislative Buildings in Douglas before meeting with Members of the CPA Isle of Man Executive Committee and other Members of the Parliament. The Secretary-General will discuss the range of parliamentary strengthening programmes that the CPA offers, particularly for its small branches, and is developing to support the professional development of Members of Parliament and parliamentary staff.
The CPA is the only Commonwealth body that works to strengthen parliaments in its smaller branches, such as the Parliament of the Isle of Man, and the relationship between the Tynwald and the CPA is therefore key in providing a platform to develop good parliamentary practice to share with other similar legislatures across the Commonwealth.
The Speaker of the House of Keys, the Hon Juan Watterson SHK said: “The Isle of Man Branch of the CPA is pleased to welcome the new Secretary-General, Mr Akbar Khan on his first visit to the Isle of Man. Tynwald’s links with other parliaments through the CPA have never been more important than they are today. Education is a key theme of the CPA, whether for parliamentarians or linking communities. I am glad that Mr Khan, through his school roadshows, will help to convey this message to the Island’s young people. He will also have the opportunity to attend a sitting, to meet Tynwald members and to see some of our interparliamentary work first-hand, thanks to the fact that his visit coincides with a visit from the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly in Pakistan.”
The Secretary-General of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, Mr Akbar Khan said: “As the CPA reaches its 105th year, we are very excited about bringing the CPA Roadshow for young people to the Isle of Man for the first time and to engage with local students on the values that unite the Commonwealth. I am delighted to visit the Isle of Man Branch of the CPA and to talk about the important and innovative work they are undertaking.”
The CPA Secretary-General will visit four schools in the Isle of Man - Dhoon Primary School, St Ninian’s High School, Castle Rushen High School, and King William’s College - as part of the CPA Roadshows tour of the Commonwealth schools and universities. The CPA Roadshows provide an opportunity for young people to learn about the political values of the Commonwealth such as diversity, development and parliamentary democracy; to discuss issues of concern about the society in which they live; and to meet local Members of Parliament and Parliamentary staff and to find out about the work of the CPA.
With the Commonwealth’s 53 member countries having a combined population of more than 2 billion, of which more than 60% are under 30 years of age, the CPA Roadshows aim to engage with young people and education establishments to promote parliamentary democracy and participation in political life.
