Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands (22 February, 2018) Counsellor David Wight and MLA Kenneth Bryan will represent the Cayman Islands Legislative Assembly at the first Commonwealth Parliamentarians’ Forum in London next week (26 February – 1 March).
The Forum is aimed at Parliamentarians’ from national legislatures across the Commonwealth and is intended to facilitate discussion between member territories on a number of key issues, prior to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in April 2018.

Hosted by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association UK (CPA UK), the Forum will include over 70 parliamentarians from more than 25 Commonwealth countries. Once Parliamentarians return to their countries they are expected to remain engaged in the delivery of the agreed outcomes of CHOGM.

“The CHOGM is a major global event and one of the most ambitious hosted by the UK so far,” stated Counsellor David Wight. “I am very happy to have this opportunity to engage with other Parliamentarians and participate in the sessions that will ultimately contribute the Heads of Government Meeting agenda.”

Expressing similar sentiments, George Town Central MLA Kenneth Bryan said that he was also looking forward to representing the Cayman Islands at the Forum. “I am particularly looking forward to collaborating with the other Commonwealth delegates and sharing ideas and insights on the four key areas that will be discussed at the Heads of Government Meeting: namely fairness, prosperity, security and sustainability,” he said.

Chair of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association UK (CPA UK), James Duddridge MP, said:
“The Commonwealth Parliamentarians’ Forum is a great opportunity for Commonwealth parliamentarians as they will be able to engage and feed into Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in a way they haven’t before. “We look forward to welcoming parliamentarians to Westminster, and to a really engaging programme. I know we will have many valuable and productive discussions.”

The Commonwealth
The Commonwealth is a vibrant and diverse organisation which promotes development, democracy and peace. CPA UK seeks to advance democracy and strengthen parliaments across the Commonwealth to lead to more sustainable development.

This year, the Commonwealth’s theme – Towards a Common Future – will explore how the Commonwealth can address global challenges focussing on four sub-themes: sustainability, fairness, security, and prosperity.

The Bi-annual CHOGM is hosted by a different Commonwealth country each time and the host country takes on a 2 year Chair-in-Office role which the UK will hold from 2018-2020.

Earlier this year, The Gambia returned to the Commonwealth and became the 53rd member state.

2018 will also see the Commonwealth Games take place in the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia in April. The next Games will take place in Birmingham, UK in 2022.

The Commonwealth is an organisation made up of 53 independent countries, 2.4 billion people, of which 60% are aged 29 or under, with a combined GDP of $10.4 trillion. Queen Elizabeth II is the Head of the Commonwealth and Head of State to 16 countries including the UK.

Commonwealth Day will take place on 12 March 2018 to celebrate the diversity, unity and values of the Commonwealth.

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David Wight CI Gov.

Kenneth Bryan Facebook