Piracy top of agenda at Commonwealth conference |28 September 2010

The meeting was held during the 56th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference in Nairobi, Kenya, from September 10-19.

The forum – under the theme Parliament and development in the 21st century: thus far and beyond – brought together over 900 delegates including speakers, members of parliament and parliamentary officers from 54 countries of the Commonwealth.

Seychelles was represented by a delegation from the National Assembly headed by Jennifer Vel, member for Pointe Larue, and including Anthony Derjacques, member from the Seychelles National Party, and clerk to the assembly Veronique Bresson.

Seychelles joined 30 other Commonwealth micro-jurisdictions to deliberate on the challenges of sovereignty in small states.

In their speeches at the Small Branches Conference, Mrs Vel and Mr Derjacques called for concerted international action to tackle high-seas crime, warning that it is no longer a regional problem as it also threatens trade between Europe and the Far East.

They stressed that a strong naval force to patrol the waters, the strengthening of criminal justice institutions and legislation to counter the crime will not be enough to end piracy, which depends on a return to peace in Somalia.

“Only when we have a stable government in Somalia, and vibrant institutions, will the citizens of Somalia stop embarking on the high seas to hijack ships of the world,” they said.

Other topics discussed at the conference included:

• The role of parliament in peace building: the case of Kenya in addressing post-election violence in 2008;
• Energy and environment: achieving sustainable development;

• Parliament, accountability and the role of internet governance in strengthening oversight;

• The effect of “political” corruption in small states.

The aim of the annual Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference is to promote parliamentary democracy by enriching knowledge and understanding of democratic governance.

It also seeks to build an informed parliamentary community able to deepen the Commonwealth’s democratic commitment and to boost cooperation among its parliaments and legislatures.

The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association will celebrate its centenary next year, and the Houses of Parliament at Westminster are to host the 57th CPA Conference.