TANZANIA ONE

SPEAKER MAKINDA ATTENDS THE 21ST COMMONWEALTH SPEAKERS AND PRESIDING OFFICERS IN TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

Speaker of the House of Trinidad and Tobago Hon. Wade Mark (Mp). Derivering his welcoming remarks to the delegates of the 21st Commonwealth Speakers and Presiding Officers.

Speakers after the Officials Opening of the 21st Commonwealth Speakers and Presiding Officers in Port of Spain Trinidad and Tobago, from left is Hon. Smt. Meira Kumar Speaker of Indian Lok Sabha, Hon. Keneth Marende (Kenya), Hon. Anne Makinda (Tanzania), Hon. Rebecca Kadaga (Uganda), Hon. Abel Stronge (Sierra Leone) and Hon. Ntlhoi Motsamai (Lesotho)

Hon. Anne Makinda (Mp) Speaker of the National Assembly of Tanzania, in a light moment with the Speaker of Indian Lok Sobha Hon. Smt. Meira Kumar after the Official Opening of the 21st Commonwealth Speakers and Presiding Officers in Port of Spain Trinidad and Tobago.

Seychelles Speaker Hon. Dr. Patrick Herminie chats with Hon. Anne Makinda (Mp) Speaker of the National Assembly of Tanzania after the Official Opening of the 21st Commonwealth Speakers and Presiding Officers in Port of Spain Trinidad and Tobago.

Hon. Anne Makinda (Mp) Speaker of the National Assembly of Tanzania, (second from right) listening to the President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, H.E Professor George Maxwell Richards, (not in picture) while delivering his opening speech during the 21st Commonwealth Speakers and Presiding Officers in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. Far righ is Ugandan Speaker Hon. Rebecca Kadaga, left is Siera Leone Speaker Hon. Abel Stronge and Cameroon Deputy Speaker Hon.Emilia Lifaka. Photo by Owen Mwandumby.

Speakers and Presiding officers who attends the 21st Commonwealth Speakers and Presiding Officers in Trinidad and Tobago, poses in a group photo with the president of Trinidad and Tobago H.E Proffesor George Maxwell Richards. after the Official Opening of the 21st Commonwealth Speakers and Presiding Officers in Port of Spain Trinidad and Tobago.

The Speaker of the National Assembly of Tanzania, Hon. Anne Makinda (Mp) she is among commonwealth delegates who are attending the 21st Commonwealth Speakers and Presiding Officers in Caribbean, Trinidad. The Opening of the this Conference took place on Monday 9th January, 2012 at 9:00am, at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Port of Spain, Trinidad and will end on 12th January, 2012.

During the Opening ceremony, speeches were made by the President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, H.E Proffesor George Maxwell Richards, the Acting Prime Minister of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and the Speaker of the House Hon Wade Mark (Mp).

In January 2011, Trinidad and Tobago was selected by the Conference’s Standing Committee to host this event, which will comprise 150 Parliamentary dignitaries from 52 Commonwealth countries around the world, including: Australia, Barbados, Cameroon, Canada, India, Isle of Man, Namibia, Nigeria, Samoa, Seychelles, Swaziland, and the United Kingdom. Trinidad and Tobago last hosted this conference in January of 1998.

The biennial conference, which will conclude on Thursday, January 12, 2012, provides an opportunity for Speakers and Presiding Officers of Commonwealth nations to meet and engage in wide-ranging discussions and to share varying perspectives on the roles and responsibilities of Presiding Officers.

Some areas of discussion for the Presiding Officers are: the Role of Parliamentary Diplomacy in the era of Globalization; Executive Accountability: Oversight Role of Parliament; Emerging new challenges for Speakers: Multiparty Chambers and minority or coalition government; and Parliamentary Service and its Management: Strengthening the independence of Parliament.

During this time, Delegates will attend dinners hosted by the President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House. They will also have the opportunity to tour either Trinidad or Tobago during their visit.

Among the delegates attending the conference are Speaker of the House of Assembly of St Vincent and the Grenadines; Malaysia Speaker of the House of Representatives; Speaker of India’s Lock Sabha, and John Bercow, Speaker of the House of Commons in the United Kingdom.