ROAD TOWN, Tortola — A delegation from the House of Assembly of the Virgin Islands participated in the 48th Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Regional Conference in Jamaica, where parliamentarians and parliamentary officials from across the Caribbean, Americas and Atlantic region examined how legislatures must adapt to an increasingly digital world.
The conference, held from August 31 to September 4 at the Moon Palace Hotel in Ocho Rios, Jamaica, was held under the theme “Strengthening Parliaments in the Digital Age.”
The Virgin Islands delegation was led by Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly, Honourable Dr Karl Dawson, and included Opposition Leader Honourable Marlon A. Penn, Honourable Ronnie W. Skelton, Honourable Melvin M. Turnbull, Deputy Clerk Linton V. Leonard and Secretary of the House of Assembly Shakiara B. Cupid.
The five-day conference brought together parliamentarians, presiding officers, clerks and parliamentary officials from jurisdictions across the CPA Caribbean, Americas and Atlantic (CAA) Region.
Discussions focused on the changing role of legislatures amid rapid technological development, digital transformation and evolving expectations of democratic institutions.
Among the issues examined were parliamentary modernisation, governance of artificial intelligence, accessibility and inclusion for persons with disabilities, youth participation and the role of women in political life.
Youth participation featured through the Virtual Regional Youth Parliament, while the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians Conference addressed the empowerment and participation of women in political life.
Deputy Speaker Dawson described the conference as timely and said it provided an opportunity for regional legislators to consider shared challenges and develop solutions collectively.
“As we modernise for the digital age, we must uphold accountability, inclusivity, and public trust while strengthening parliamentary democracy for future generations,” Dawson said.
A keynote address was delivered by Jamaica’s Prime Minister, Dr Andrew Holness, who spoke about the role of parliaments in regional cooperation, democratic resilience and good governance.
Strengthening Parliamentary Administration
The conference also included the 19th Presiding Officers and Clerks Conference, attended by BVI Deputy Clerk Linton V. Leonard.
Sessions examined areas including capacity building, institutional oversight, parliamentary budgeting and financing, and inter-parliamentary networking.
The House of Assembly said the knowledge and experiences gained through the conference will contribute to ongoing efforts to strengthen its administrative and operational effectiveness.
The conference concluded with participating CPA CAA jurisdictions reaffirming their commitment to regional cooperation and the sharing of parliamentary experience and best practices.
For the Virgin Islands, participation provided an opportunity not only to engage with regional counterparts, but also to examine how the Territory’s own parliamentary institution can respond to technological change while maintaining accountability, accessibility and public confidence in the democratic process.