The Cayman Islands Branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) will host a special event for Cayman Islands’ youth on Friday, 4 August 2017 at the Town Hall in George Town.

The CPA Secretariat and Cayman’s MLAs will be bringing the ‘CPA Roadshow’ for youth that is taking place this year across 53 Commonwealth member nations that have a combined population of more than 2 billion, 60% of which is under 30 years of age.

Through this youth-empowering exercise, the CPA aims to increase youth awareness of parliament functioning within a democracy.

According to a CPA release, the CPA Roadshows “provide an opportunity for young people to discuss the issues of concern about their society and democracy, to meet local Members of Parliament and Parliamentary staff” and to find out about the CPA’s work and the wider Commonwealth”.

The CPA Roadshows were launched in March 2016 by the Chairperson of the CPA Executive Committee, Hon. Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury MP, Speaker of the Parliament of Bangladesh, who said: “Young people are the future of the Commonwealth and the CPA is working to give young people a platform to raise a range of issues that impact their lives. The CPA has a unique network of Parliamentarians from over 180 Commonwealth Parliaments and the CPA Roadshows are engaging young people in democracy.”

Elaborating on the Cayman Islands Roadshow, Clerk of the Legislative Assembly and secretary of the local Branch, Ms Zena Merren-Chin, extended the invitation to all youth aged 14-25 years to the programme where the Secretary General of the CPA, Mr Akbar Khan will make a presentation at the Town Hall event from 3.30 pm to 5 pm. Given the age grouping, the event is open to high school and tertiary level students and all interested youth. Refreshments will be provided, she added.

This new youth initiative is being held as part of the Cayman Islands Legislative Assembly’s post-election seminar, which is being held in the Cayman Islands this year from Thursday, 3 August to Friday 4 August 2017 for members Legislative Assembly.

About the CPA: The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), now in its 105th year with HM The Queen, Head of the Commonwealth as its Patron, exists to develop, promote and support Parliamentarians and their staff to identify benchmarks of good governance and to implement the enduring values of the Commonwealth.

The CPA is an international community of around 180 Commonwealth Parliaments and Legislatures working together to deepen the Commonwealth’s commitment to the highest standards of democratic governance. Parliaments, their Members and officials learn from each other through CPA activities: Annual Commonwealth Parliamentary Conferences, Regional Conferences and other symposiums; Inter-parliamentary visits.

Contact details are: Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) CPA Secretariat, Westminster House, Suite 700, 7 Millbank, London SW1P 3JA, United Kingdom T: 44-20-7799-1460 | F: 44-20-7222-6073 | Website: www.cpahq.org | Email [email protected]. on social media: Twitter @CPA_Secretariat or Facebook.com/CPAHQ.

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IMAGE: CPA Roadshows