Honourable Fatoumatta Jahumpa-Ceesay, Speaker of the National Assembly has described the just concluded 53rd Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) meeting held in India from 18th September to 2nd October 2007 as one of the most successful sessions the association has ever held.

The 53rd CPA conference which brought together over 800 parliamentarians, legislators, Observers, Clerks/Secretaries of Legislatures, invitees, spouse and others from the Commonwealth, including delegates representing the CPA India Region and State Branches centred on the theme ‘Delivering Democracy and Sustainable Development’.

CPA branches exist in 169 national, state, provincial and territorial parliaments, with a total membership of approximately 16,000 parliamentarians.

The CPA conference was officially declared opened by HE Smt Pratibha Devisingh Patil, President of India, who is the first Women President of India, on 25th September 2007.  The conference was preceded by the 27th conference of small countries, Women Parliamentarians conference, Regional Branch meetings and meetings of the Society of Clerks-at-the-Table and elections.

Highlighting the successes of the conference at a press conference, at her office yesterday, Speaker Jahumpa-Ceesay, said the theme of the conference with various dimension were dealt within six workshops.

According to Speaker FJC, three gender related plenaries were also held which focus on the role of parliamentarians in raising awareness on curbing human trafficking. It also serves as a strategy for enforcing greater accountability of parliamentarians to the people and the final plenary, which looks at benchmarks for democratic legislatures.

She added that the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians also held two important sessions during the conference. “The topics discussed were the strategies to overcome barriers preventing women’s equal participation in decision-making and the role of women parliamentarians in the fight against HIV/AIDS and poverty,” she said. 

She then quickly pointed out that during that session, the Gambian delegation effectively participated in the deliberations and highlighted the significant breakthrough made by President Yahya Jammeh of the Republic of The Gambia, in the cure of HIV/AIDs, asthma and other diseases.

Speaker FJC then announced that with the approval of President Yahya Jammeh, The Gambia’s branch of the CPA has offered to host the CPA 2010 conference in The Gambia. She further saluted President Yahya Jammeh for his foresight and visionary leadership in accepting The Gambia to host the 2010 CPA confab.

The Gambian delegation to the Delhi conference were led by Honourable Fatoumatta Jahumpa-Ceesay, Speaker of the National Assembly, accompanied by Honourable Tina Faal. Speaker FJC was elected as Africa’s Regional Representative in the Executive Council of the CPA for the period 2007-2010.

Speaking at the press conference, Hon Tina Faal, nominated member of the National Assembly congratulated Speaker FJC for the brilliant speech, delivered at the session. She then saluted President Yahya Jammeh for empowering the women of this country.

Hon. Faal further highlighted that they have sensitised the people at the conference about President Jammeh’s HIV/AIDs, asthma and diabetes breakthrough, which CPA member states have been appriative.

At the end of the conference, delegates made sightseeing to the historic city of Agra, to visit the famous Taj Mahal, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.

It could be recalled that, the CPA is an association of Common Wealth Parliamentarians, who irrespective of gender, race, religion or culture are united by community of interest, respect for the rule of law and individual rights and freedoms and by pursuit of the positive ideals of parliamentary democracy.

It is a multi-racial, multi-lingual, multi-cultural and multi-religious association of sovereign nations spread across the whole continents.

In another development, the Gambian delegation to the Second Ecowas Parliamentary Session, led by Sulayman Joof, NAM for Serrekunda East accompanied by Sellu Bah of Basse, Momodou Sanneh, Minority Leader and member for Kiang West, Suku Singhateh and Haddy Nyang-Jagne, also returned from Abuja, Nigeria.

According to Hon. Sulayman Joof, The Gambia was represented in all high profile meetings of Ecowas in Abuja, such as the administration and finance committee meeting and the drafting of the Ecowas activities for the coming years in which US$ 10 million has been budgeted.

He added that papers were presented on trade and the free movement of goods and people within the Ecowas member states.   He then urged for the member states to look into the several harassment encountered by people at the borders of the members states of Ecowas, noting that there cannot be any development without such being addressed.

For Momodou Sanneh, Minority Leader, who participated in the session in drafting the Ecowas activities for the coming years, also observed that harassment of citizens of Ecowas member states travelling from one nation to another needs to be addressed for Ecowas’ goals to be realised. He also described the Abuja Conference as a success and hope that the recommendations made at the conference will be implemented for the benefit of the sub-region.

Sellu Bah, member for Basse, said Ecowas is really focusing on a lot of issues, but key among them is the free movement of goods and people which should be properly looked into.

This, he said, is for the fact that there are lots of harassment in the borders, resulting in cross-border crises and criminals being escorted freely after the crimes in the said borders.

Similarly, Hon. Fabakary Tombong Jatta, Majority Leader and member for Serrekunda East, who led the Gambian delegation to Madrid, Spain also returned home recently. He was accompanied by DCM Kebbeh, Clerk of the National Assembly and Sedia Jatta, NAM for Wuli West.

Speaking at the press conference yesterday, Hon Jatta noted that the meeting held from 17th-21st September was dubbed ‘Parliament and the rule of law,’ organised by the National Assembly of Spain.

According to him, important topics, such as parliament and actors in parliament procedures, the role of parliamentary committees, parliamentary administration, among others were being discussed. 

He added that they also had meetings with several Spanish leaders, and then noted that the Spanish government in its quest for world peace, felt the need to pay greater attention to Africa. “This is due to our cultural ties. They are also very sincere and has prepared a well- integrated policy for Africa called, ‘The African Plan,’” he said.

He then described the Madrid trip as a success.  DCM Kebbeh, Clerk of the National Assembly, chaired the press briefing.