The Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference (CPC) has kicked off Monday morning at the Speke Resort Munyonyo. Uganda, with closed meetings of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) regional secretaries. A delegation from the Falkland Islands is attending the meeting.
The flag of the European Union at different points in Gibraltar was lowered over the weekend and replaced by the flag of the Commonwealth, marking Commonwealth Day. It has been traditional for the Commonwealth flag to fly on that day over No.6 Convent Place, the seat of Government in Gibraltar.
A delegation from the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, CPA, is currently visiting the Falkland Islands to provide Parliamentary training to the newly elected Legislative Assembly as part of a joint program agreed ahead of the election.
Nearly forty Parliamentarians from eleven Commonwealth countries and territories (including Falkland Islands) are meeting in Gibraltar in order to discuss the impact of the decision taken in the United Kingdom to leave the European Union, among other current issues.
Two Falklands lawmakers, MLA Mike Summers and MLA Phyl Rendell, will represent the Islands government as part of the British delegation at meetings with Argentina in London next Monday and Tuesday. According to a release from the Islands' government the principal item to be addressed is a second flight from South America to the Falklands that was agreed in a September Joint Statement between the UK and Argentina.
In a colorful opening ceremony in the Legislative Chamber at the Parliament Buildings in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, over 60 young participants representing CPA Branches in eight of the nine CPA Regions – Africa; Asia; Australia; British Islands and Mediterranean; Caribbean, Americas and Atlantic; Canada; India; Pacific – came together for the start of a week long program of events. The Falkland Islands are represented by Jody Aldridge and Gemma Finn.
Falkland Islands remains hopeful of improved relations with the new administration of Argentina and cooperation in the many areas of mutual interest such as fisheries and connectivity, but sovereignty of the Falklands is not for negotiation, reads the Gilbert House report to the 46th British Isles and Mediterranean Region Conference, which opened on Sunday in Jersey.
The Falkland Islands Branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) would like to invite expressions of interest in representing the Islands at the Commonwealth Youth Parliament, CYP, 2016, to be held in Canada next November.
The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association during its conference in Johannesburg noted a motion recognising the Falkland Islands Referendum as a free and fair expression of the Falkland Islanders wishes and their right to Self-Determination.
Delegates at the 59th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference in South Africa, including Falklands’ delegates approved a motion expressing strong support for Gibraltar and denouncing Spanish political pressure on the Rock as “totally unacceptable”.