Your Parliament - Your Voice 9 March 2012

       

  “Your Parliament – Your Voice”

From the Office of the Speaker

It is Commonwealth Day on Monday the 12^th March 2012 and we send warm wishes for a most enjoyable day to Norfolk’s attendees Tim Gatehouse, Tennille Christian and Leah Christian from whom we look forward to receiving in due course a report on the activities they attended.  We have asked them to make sure they link up at the celebrations with the Manx students from the Isle of Man – Kirsty Renshaw and Abby Dixon (featured below).  Readers will recall that Norfolk Island and the Isle of Man signed a Cultural Agreement last July in which our two Islands acknowledge our common ties of family and culture and acknowledge our desire to develop and strengthen friendly relations and to promote interest in the fields of heritage, culture, research, education and media communications.

Kirsty Rensha

Former Buchan and King William’s College student Kirsty Renshaw, a Durham University BA (Hons) graduate in history, English and politics, is now reading law at BPP law school, London. Abby Dixon is at London University’s School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) reading for an MSc in migration, mobility and development. She is also learning Swahili and, once qualified, is hoping to relocate to East Africa to work in humanitarian development.

                     

  

The following words from Isle of Man CPA branch chairman Mr Juan Watterson MHK sums up perfectly what the Commonwealth Day activity in London organised by the CPA for us is all about:

 

Abby Dixon

‘This year’s observance day event not only provides an opportunity to reflect on the enduring relevance and importance of the Commonwealth but also the valuable contribution it makes, through the work of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, in bringing nations, and young people especially, together in a spirit of mutual understanding to further the aims of parliamentary democracy. It is therefore fitting that the theme for this year’s Commonwealth Day observance celebrations in London is Connecting Cultures and I am pleased the Isle of Man branch of the CPA has been able to offer Abby and Kirsty this unique insight into the modern-day Commonwealth.’

It is our wish that this year’s Commonwealth Day celebrations in London will further connect the cultures of Norfolk Island and the Isle of Man through a coming together of Abby, Kirsty, Tim, Tennille and Leah.

Whilst Commonwealth Day is celebrated around the Commonwealth of Nations on Monday the 12^th March, this year we will acknowledge Commonwealth Day at the School Assembly on Wednesday the 14^th March when Deputy Speaker Snell will speak about Commonwealth Day and Ms Sophie Donohoe, Spokesman for the Youth Assembly, will read Her Majesty’s Message.

Matters from the sitting of the Legislative Assembly on 7 March 2012 will be reported in next weeks issue of Your Parliament Your Voice.  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 9 March 2012 and posted on the blog site http://yourparliamentyourvoice.blogspot.com