Anguilla’s Chief Minister, Hubert Hughes, and the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Mrs. Barbara Webster-Bourne, will be among some 37 delegates attending the Commonwealth Parliamentary Regional Conference in the Falklands.
Mr. Hughes told reporters on Tuesday that he and the Speaker would be leaving Anguilla on Thursday for the Falklands.
The 43rd British Islands and Mediterranean Region (BIMR) Annual Conference of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, as the event is officially referred to, will be held during the period February 11-15.
The BIMR comprises branches of the CPA from Alderney, Guernsey, Jersey, Isle of Man, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, CPA UK, St. Helena, Cyprus, Malta and the Falkland Islands.
Information about the event states that a total of 37 delegates from a number of the CPA branches are expected to attend the conference. Representatives from Canada and Anguilla will have observer status. The delegates from the respective branches will meet their travel costs, while the Falkland Islands will be responsible for local costs.
The theme of the conference, on February 12 and 13, will be “Self-Determination and its role in Self-Governance and Devolution”. Among the invited guest speakers to address three plenary sessions are: the Rt. Hon. Baroness Scotland of Asthal QC, Professor Michael Keating, and Fabian Picardo, the Chief Minister of Gibraltar. Their addresses will all relate to the conference theme.
A question and answer period will follow each speech. Following this, the delegates will break into workshops to discuss elements of the lead speeches before reporting back to the plenary session.
In addition, the BIMR Annual General Meeting will also take place during the week. Members of the Falklands’ Legislative Assembly will also meet privately with the UK delegation.
There will be a number of evening social events. These will include a buffet dinner with members of the Chamber of Commerce and a gala dinner for invited guests.
The opening ceremony will include performances by children from both the Infant and Junior School and the Falkland Islands Community School.
Chief Minister Hughes said his trip to the Falklands will last for a week and a half.
