Press Releases

The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Secretariat and the CPA North West Province will jointly hold the Sixth Commonwealth Youth Parliament in Mmabatho, South Africa, between 2nd and 8th November 2014. The CYP is an annual event held in a different country of the Commonwealth each year. This year Guyana will be sending two representatives, Mr. Brian Andre Smith and Ms. Dana King-Waithe. It is anticipated that some 80 to 90 young people from across the Commonwealth will participate in the event which will also be attended by a number of young Members of Parliament under the age of 35 from across the Commonwealth. Guyana’s two representatives met, today, with the House Speaker, Hon. Raphael Trotman, the two chief whips, Ms. Gail Teixeira and Ms. Amna Ally and the Alliance For Changes’ Cathy Hughes who congratulated them on being selected and offered advice on how the representatives could make their trip productive and successful. Mr. Smith says that he hopes this experience will help him to better understand the parliamentary process and is looking forward to interacting with young people from across the Commonwealth with a view to returning home with information that will assist the National Assembly in creating its own Youth Parliament. Ms. King-Waithe disclosed that she is looking forward to participating in debates on issues relating to democracy, youth development and unemployment. She said she is also eager to learn, from youths in other Commonwealth countries, best practices that can be used in Guyana. The event will commence on Sunday 2nd November will end on Friday 7th November and participants. The overall goal of the Youth Parliament is to strengthen the democratic process in the Commonwealth by deepening understanding of parliamentary democracy among the participants and providing a forum for them to express their ideas, concerns and expectations. The Youth Parliament will mirror proceedings in parliament with debates, question time and committee work. All participants will be expected to play an active part and must be confident in public speaking. The purpose of the CYP is to provide an experience of the parliamentary process and to demonstrate how Parliaments are able to make legislation; to debate matters of national and international concern; to discuss legislation in committee; and to hold the Executive to account through parliamentary questions and in parliamentary committees. Participants will have the chance to experience life in the parliamentary spotlight and at the same time show how the next generation might approach parliamentary politics. Formal parliamentary practice adapted from several Commonwealth countries will be followed and the proceedings will take place under the watchful eyes of experienced parliamentary officials. In addition, the young Members of Parliament present will act as mentors for the young people participating in the CYP. END.