CPA conference to focus on threats to Caribbean democracy By Kyle Christian - Tuesday, July 16th, 2013. Article Hits: 3 No Comments ST JOHN’S, Antigua – A meeting of parliamentarians from around the region in Antigua & Barbuda later this month will see real examples of threats to Caribbean democracy ventilated. That’s according to Speaker of the House D Gisele Isaac, who said, “I proposed to the broader executive, instead of dealing with theoretical subjects as we tend to do, let’s look at the actual issues facing the Caribbean countries.” Isaac also serves, along with Senate President Hazlyn Francis, as co-president of the Caribbean, Americas and Atlantic Region of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association. Guided by the theme, “Challenges to Caribbean Democracy,” Antigua will host, from July 28 to August 2, the association’s 38th Annual Regional Conference. “In the Turks and Caicos Islands we had Michael Misick removed as premiere; we had McKeeva Bush in trouble in Caymans; we had Jack Warner in Trinidad. So instead of skirting the issues, I figured this year we would actually look at corruption and the cost of corruption.” Isaac said one session of the meeting will look specifically at the New National Party’s clean sweep of all 15 seats in the Grenada House of Representatives. “Sure they were elected by a democratic process, but the democratic process always envisioned that there would be an opposition. So what happens when there is no opposition to government,” she queried. The longstanding motion-of-no-confidence against St Kitts & Nevis Prime Minister Dr Denzil Douglas inspired the first topic of the conference, “Losing Confidence in the No Confidence Motion.” The House Speaker said she found the entire no confidence motion situation there “mind-boggling.” Isaac said she hopes the conference would be an “intellectually stimulating” exercise. “I want them to get something in Antigua that speaks of change and change for the better,” she said. Other topics on the agenda are: The arguments for/against devaluation, profit and loss: the costs of corruption and, how TVET education can save Caribbean economies. Over 50 participants, inclusive of both government and opposition representation, are expected to participate in the 6-day conference.
Posted on: Tue, 16 Jul 2013 09:55:15 +0000