60th CPA Conference: Way forward

Cameroon is hosting a landmark event which is the 60th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference (CPC) that runs from 2-10 October 2014.

President Paul Biya, who is the Vice-Patron of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), will chair the official opening ceremony to further indicate Cameroon’s attachment to the values of the Commonwealth which are peace, democracy, the rule of law, and diversity among others.

The statistical facts of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference (CPC) are eloquent proof of the depth and immensity of the Yaounde gathering - 175 delegations from 53 Commonwealth member countries with specific groups like Small Branches Conference, Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians, Regional Branches and Society of Clerks at-the-Table having to discuss issues related to the well being of their different countries.

Having as theme; ““Repositioning the Commonwealth for the post-2015 development agenda,” such a programme points to the fact that delegates at the Yaounde confab intend to ensure their association remains at the centre of human development by offering viable alternatives to the Millennium Development Goals, MDGs.

Of course, it has almost been common knowledge that most of the MDGS, especially in the areas of education and healthcare have not met the required target.

However, given the diversity embodied in the Commonwealth in general and the CPA, in particular, many must be curious to know what the association will be discussing as far as democracy, elections and unity in diversity are concerned. Looking at the other central concerns of the Yaounde conference, an understanding of the grassroots position of Members of Parliament is enough to say much about the outcome of a gathering of the magnitude of the CPA.

As an offshoot of elections, Members of Parliament have the major challenge to inculcate values of democracy, development and progress in their various communities. Thus, having close to 800 of them assemble in Cameroon in their 60th Conference is another opportunity to keenly look into the daunting development problems that the world is facing today.

The resolve of the delegates in Yaounde was tested on Saturday 4 October when information on the death of the Secretary General of the Association, Dr William F. Shija was made known. The postponement of the day’s activities, according to the delegates present was simply to enable them better reflect on the next step and forge ahead with the objectives of the Yaounde conference.

Cameroon has also taken advantage of the presence of such eminent personalities to showcase the countries tourism potentials by letting them visit localities such as Limbe and Buea in the South West Region, Kribi in the South and attractive sights in Yaounde, the capital city.

Hosting such a huge Commonwealth event for the first time since joining the association on 1 September 1995 in Auckland, New Zealand, is a traslation of the strong bonds that have existed between the country and the Commonwealth. It equally serves as an added value to the countries bi-cultural nature and the valorization of the cultural diversity of Cameroon.

This explains the intellectual discussion that would be on cultural diversity so as to highlight the values that have continued to make the country to stay united despite the differences existing among its people.

Historically, the CPA was founded in 1911 as the Empire Parliamentary Association and an organisation of British origin which works to support good governance, democracy and human rights. The association in 1948 changed its name to the current Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, and allowed all branches to be part of its administration and organisation.

The branches are grouped into nine Commonwealth regions namely: Africa; Asia; Australia; British Islands and Mediterranean; Canada; Caribbean, Americas and Atlantic; India; Pacific, and South-East Asia. The organisation acknowledges a Patron - the Head of the Commonwealth; Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II - and a Vice Patron, the Head of State or of the government of the branch holding the upcoming conference.

In 1989 the Commonwealth Women’s Parliament, CWP was founded by women delegates at a plenary so as to enable women at future conferences discuss ways to increase female representation in Parliament and work towards the mainstreaming of gender considerations in all CPA activities. In 2004, the group was formally recognized in the CPA Constitution and its elected Chairperson added to the CPA Executive Committee.