Centenary Conference of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association

It is hard to believe that it is almost a month since I returned from London where as Speaker and delegate for the Norfolk Island, I attended the Centenary Conference of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (the CPA). My visit to London included my attendance at the Annual General Meeting of the United Kingdom-Norfolk Island Friendship Group at the House of Commons. This group was formed as a result of a CPA visit to Norfolk Island in 2008 by Mr Andrew Rosindell, the member for Romford in the UK Parliament since 2001. It is Mr Rosindell’s huge interest in the British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies, both current and former, which led him to visit Norfolk in 2008 to learn more about us. It was my pleasure as the guest speaker at this meeting to have the opportunity to speak about Norfolk to those attending.

2011 marked the centenary year of the CPA which was inaugurated in London in 1911 and I joined some 700 Commonwealth Parliamentarians and parliamentary officials in London to mark the occasion. The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association is composed of the Parliaments and Legislatures in 53 of the 54 Commonwealth nations and their overseas territories. It has a membership of more than 16,000 parliamentarians of national, state, provincial and territorial Assemblies.

HRH The Princess Royal attended the opening ceremony of the centennial Commonwealth Parliamentary Association annual conference, at which she read a message of welcome and encouragement from Her Majesty The Queen, Patron of the CPA and Head of the Commonwealth. Our picture (above) shows the Lord Speaker the Rt Hon. Baroness Hayman giving the vote of thanks to HRH The Princess Royal. Our picture below show the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod escorting HRH The Princess Royal out of Westminster Hall

This years Conference theme was “Reinforcing Democracy”.

As always the Small Countries Conference which runs over two full days prior to the main conference provides the most value for Norfolk Island and I was pleased to be able to contribute meaningfully in discussions on many of the issues addressed.

Small countries are those with a population of 400,000 or less. The topics for discussion this year were -

a)Commonwealth initiatives in handling migration issues

b) Countering threats to the Stability of Small Democracies

c) Women as Agents of Change in Small Societies

d) Strengthening Democracy in Small States: Youth Leadership Training, Citizen Involvement and Parliamentary Reform

I had particular interest in topics a), c) and d); and was pleased to not only be able to share with other small nations how our hybrid form of governance currently works; but also to speak with pride about our very active Youth Assembly and the very real and influential role it can, and does play in local issues about which they feel strongly. This generated genuine interest, and questions being asked by delegates, particularly by the Falkland Islands as to how they might mirror our Youth Assembly in their country and I note that my contribution in this debate has already been reported in the Falkland Islands news.

As mentioned in Your Parliament Your Voice of 12 August 2011 discussions have begun with the Isle of Man under the cultural agreement to work on how our respective educational establishments can work together to exchange ideas, ultimately with a view to an exchange student scheme. The Isle of Man is probably the first jurisdiction to give the vote to people of 16 years of age which would seem a clear indication of the value they place on their young people. Our Youth Assembly is now considering how they can link up with other Commonwealth Youth Assemblies/Youth Parliaments in small Commonwealth countries through social and other media, and we will keep you informed as we take this exciting initiative forward.

By necessity my report on the CPA Conference this week needed to be brief but I believe it clearly demonstrates that we should never underestimate the value of networking with other small jurisdictions, jurisdictions that have had similar problems to ours such as down turn in tourism and contraction of their economies as is happening to us here on Norfolk today; the value of being able to discuss with them how they have successfully addressed their problems cannot be understated.

Issued from the Office of the Speaker on 26 August 2011

The Isle of Man continued from 12 August 2011

Our pictures show the formal signing of the Cultural Agreement at the Tynwald Banquet by the President of Tynwald, the Hon Noel Cringle OBE MLC and myself. This was Mr President’s last Tynwald Day as he did not seek re-election on 12 July 2011. The Hon. Clare Christian MLC was elected to this prestigious position on 12 July and it was a pleasure for me to be able to extend personal congratulations to her on the Assembly’s behalf in London at the Centenary Conference of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (the CPA). President Christian (pictured below) was in London to attend a meeting of the CPA Working Party to review the organisation and activities of the CPA. I know readers will smile with me that the newly elected President of Tynwald shares the same surname as Fletcher Christian of HMS Bounty to whom we owe thanks for Norfolk Island today being the place we call home!

Whilst space does not allow me to speak at length about the actual formal proceedings at Tynwald Hill on Tynwald Day there is one ancient tradition which you might find interesting – the invitation from His Excellency the Lieutenant Governor from the Hill inviting any persons wishing to present a Petition for Redress to come forward. There were nine petitioners who “seized this ancient right to present their grievances” during the proceedings. The petitioners came forward and presented their petitions one at a time to the Clerk of Tynwald at the foot of Tynwald Hill. The Clerk then conveyed the Petitions for Redress to His Excellency, who having been handed the Petitions, said:

“I shall refer these Petitions to the Standing Orders Committee of Tynwald who will report thereon at their earliest convenience”.

After the Petitioners withdrew to the north of the Hill, a fanfare was sounded and the troops were called to attention. The proceedings on Tynwald Hill were then concluded with the singing of the Manx National Anthem followed by the processions from the Hill back to the Royal Chapel of St. John’s for the Captioning of the Acts just promulgated. All in all a day for me steeped in ancient history which will remain with me as a precious memory to recall and share. (Our picture shows President Cringle in ceremonial robes at Tynwald Hill)

Next week we move to London and the Centenary Conference of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association….

Issued from the Office of the Speaker on 19 August 2011.

Official Visit to Isle of Man and London

Over the next few weeks I will share with you some of the highlights of my recent official visit to the Isle of Man and to London. Whilst my travel to London was funded by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (the CPA) through our annual subscription paid to the international body of the CPA, my trip to the Isle of Man from the UK was self funded; and I record my thanks to the Isle of Man Parliament (better known as Tynwald Court) for inviting me to visit as their official guest from 2 to 7 July. The main purpose of my visit to the Isle of Man was to sign a Cultural Agreement between our respective Island Parliaments in which we acknowledge, amongst other things, the strand of the early history of Norfolk Island’s settlement through our respective associations with Fletcher Christian and Captain Bligh and the subsequent settlement of Pitcairn Island following the mutiny on board HMS Bounty in 1789.

Discussion on the Cultural Agreement began in 2007 with the visit to the Isle of Man by the then Chief Minister of the 12th Assembly, the Hon Andre Nobbs MLA. During Minister Nobbs’ visit lasting friendships were forged with their Chief Minister the Hon Tony Brown MHK and with the then President of the Legislative Council the Hon. Noel Cringle OBE. It was through those friendships that the concept of a Cultural Agreement was agreed and in April this year, the terms of the Agreement were finally settled, and an invitation extended to me, as your Speaker, to visit Man to sign this historic document, a document which agreed the following:

1. The Tynwald Court on the Isle of Man and the Legislative Assembly of Norfolk Island will promote closer links in developing cultural activity;

2. The established link between our two Islands via The Bounty should be recognised on both Islands on each National Day, ie Anniversary (Bounty) Day on the 8^th of June and Tynwald Day on the 5^th of July;

3. Encouragement should be given to the exchange of music and dance via each local radio station and video recordings;

4. Educational establishments should be encouraged to exchange ideas, ultimately with a view to an exchange student scheme

5. As each step is progressed then recognition should be marked in the Hansard of both Parliaments

It was an honour and a great privilege for me as your Speaker to represent Norfolk at the official proceedings on Tynwald Day this year and on our Island’s behalf to sign the Cultural Agreement at the Tynwald Day Banquet and at the conclusion of the signing to be invited to say a few words - a very moving experience. Other official overseas guests of Tynwald came from Belgium, France, Gibraltar, Guernsey, Eire, Northern Island, Norway, Scotland, Wales, the United Kingdom and the United States of America; the American contingent being the NASA astronauts who crewed the historic final mission of the space shuttle Discovery earlier this year. To hear them speak about their work as astronauts was truly inspiring.

I will share with you some facts about their ancient Parliament - Tynwald Court. The Isle of Man is a self-governing Crown dependency. It has its own parliament, administrative system and laws but pays Britain to take responsibility for international affairs and defence. It is the oldest parliament in continuous existence in the world and in 1979, when Norfolk Island commenced its journey back to internal self-government; Tynwald celebrated the millennium of its parliament – 1000 years.

Their parliament comprises 24 members with a popularly elected lower house known as the House of Keys and an upper house, the Legislative Council. Both Houses come together each month as Tynwald Court to discuss legislation, Government administration and funding. On 5 July each year there is an open-air Assembly in St John’s on Tynwald Hill where new laws passed in the previous year are proclaimed in English and Manx and promulgated into law. This is their National Day – Tynwald Day.

The Manx people cherish their ancient rights and are a very proud people, a fact that for me was so evident when they sang the Manx National anthem. Their motto in Latin which appears with the official Three Legs of Man emblem on their national flag and on their Crest translates to “It will stand wheresoever you throw it” and accurately reflects their resilience “not to ever give up”. That is evidenced by the fact that never before in history has the Isle of Man been more prosperous or independent than they are today.

Promulgation of Manx laws on Tynwald Hill

The Isle of Man Crest

The Isle of Man has become a major player in space commerce and their Government has attracted firms to its shores due to the zero per cent corporate tax, government grants, the Island's political stability, commercially friendly legislation and its state of the art telecommunications infrastructure.

The benefits of our new association are already bearing fruit with an offer from the Hon Alex Downie OBE, Minister in the Isle of Man Government with responsibility for Economic Development who has offered us the opportunity to be linked with the Isle of Man in their recently opened “Genealogy Museum”; we will also explore how our respective Youth Assemblies can be linked.

To be continued next week …..

Issued from the Office of the Speaker on 10 August

Sitting of the Legislative Assembly on 3 August 2011

The Legislative Assembly met on Wednesday 3 August 2011 at 10 am and concluded at pm with a lunch break between 12.30 pm and 2.00 pm.

Answers were provided both to questions without notice and on notice.

The following papers were tabled:

1) Resolution of Internet Service disruption – Media Release

2) Letter from CASA dated 6 July 2011 re Fire Vehicles Norfolk Island

3) Direction from the Minister to the NI Government Tourist Bureau

4) Norfolk Island Annual Report 2009-2010

5) Census and Statistics Regulations 2011

6) Traffic (Amendment) Regulations 2011

7) Planning (Amendment) Regulations 2011

8) Virement of Funds 6 July – 3 August 2011

9) Cultural Agreement between Norfolk Island and Isle of Man

10) Report from the Employment Conciliation Board 2010-2011

11) Report on Public consultation for proposed variation to the NI Plan 2002 and the draft plan being a proposed amendment to Schedule 2 of the Norfolk Island Plan (as amended)

12) An Alternative Roadmap

13) Customs (Amendment No 3) Bill 2010 – Explanatory Memorandum

In statements the Chief Minister reported on progress with the current request to the Commonwealth for interim funding and on the Census to be conducted on 7 August 2011

The Speaker reported on her official visit from 2 to 7 July 2011 to the Isle of Man to sign a Cultural Agreement between the Isle of Man and Norfolk Island; she also reported on her attendance in London as the Norfolk Island delegate Centenary Conference of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association

The Speaker reported that the Administrator had assented to Healthcare (amendment No 2) Act 2011 and the Road Traffic (Amendment) Act 2011

Outcomes for matters on the Notice Paper which were debated are as follows:

1) The House resolved to determine an amendment to Schedule 2 of the Norfolk Island plan in in order to allow for a subdivision of portion 34j1 Martins Road

2) The House revoked the appointment of Ronald James Holdsworth under section 23 of the Supreme Court Act 1960 and under section 73 of the Court of Petty Sessions Act 1960 and appointed Geoffrey James Atkinson in his stead

3) Jennifer May Goulding was appointed under subsection 65(2) of the Employment Act 1988 to the Employment Conciliation Board for the period 4 August 2011 to 3 August 2014

4) The House recognising the need to give direction and momentum to the policy expressed in the governance “road map” and acknowledging that the processes of examination and assessment prescribed by the “road map” are yet to add definition to a future governance model, endorsed, in principle, the Norfolk Island Government’s broad preference for a “territory-type” model of future governance

5) The Chief Minister presented the Customs (Amendment No. 3) Bill 2011; debate was adjourned

6) Debate resumed on a statement adjourned at the July sitting of the House in relation to the new immigration policy and guidelines

7) The Social Services (Amendment) Bill 2011 was agreed to

The House adjourned until 7 September 2011 at 10 am

To read the Notice Paper, Programme and Minutes of Proceedings and legislation tabled in the House go to www.info.gov.nf. Issued from the Office of the Speaker on 5 August 2011