Active parliamentarians who look on at the current Commonwealth Youth Parliament being held in T&T would do well to see what lessons might be learnt from participants, in the way they deport themselves and in the respect which they show—not just to each other, but to the process of law making.
Acting President of T&T Christine Kangaloo (Senate President) made this point on Monday during the launch of the three-day Commonwealth Youth Parliament (CYP).
House Speaker Bridgid Annisette-George, Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Secretary General Stephen Twigg and Senate Vice President Muhammed Ibrahim also spoke during the event.
The event was held in the Red House’s Senate Chamber.
Twigg, a former British MP, said the chamber was beautiful and described the Red House building as impressive.
The CYP, being held under the theme “Youth Involvement in Parliamentary Democracy,” involves delegates aged 18 to 29 from all over the Commonwealth.
The agenda includes panel discussions, meetings and debate on a bill on “Remote Work and a four-day work week.”
The event is being hosted by T&T for the first time and it’s also the first in-person CYP since the pandemic and is also Twigg’s first visit to T&T.
Kangaloo noted Aristotle had said that the two noblest professions were teaching and politics.
“It is something to be regretted that while teaching appears to have maintained much of its esteem, parliamentary politics has not always done as well,” she said.
Kangaloo said the CYP event couldn’t happen at a better time in Parliament’s history.
She said, “Today, perhaps more than any other time, the Commonwealth and world need to be reminded of the fundamental tenets of the parliamentary democratic process that once inspired Aristotle...there needs to be a re-education about the essential nobility that lies at the heart of parliamentary participation.”
She said the task fell to youths generally, and CYP delegates, who hopefully will emerge with a clearer, better understanding of the importance of the dignity of Parliament.
Kangaloo added, “There is no denying that there have been occasions, and persons who have made parliamentarians deserving of their fair share of criticism. But there’s no equally denying that among the ranks of the parliamentarians are honourable, hardworking and committed people who deserve far better than what they have got, in the way of seemingly omnipresent public bashing that appears to have become so fashionable of late.”
Kangaloo said active parliamentarians who look on at this year’s Youth Parliament would do well, “to see what lessons there might be learnt from these young people–lessons perhaps in the way they deport themselves in and out of the Chamber and in the respect which they show, not just to each other but to the process of law making.”
Annisette-George advised delegates: “Use this opportunity well to equip yourself with the tools to be an effective changer maker to bring about real solutions.”
She also said a good legislator must know their constituents, must be seen by them, “must walk and eat among them, must participate in all their celebrations, including the cultural culture, and must commiserate with their constituents in their times of struggle and challenge.”
To provide the full experience of an MP, she added the programme will offer a snapshot of T&T’s rich culture, cuisine and historical sites.
The ceremony featured inspirational performances from the Parliament’s choir, comprising Hansard clerks, police officers and other Parliament workers, who performed calypso icon Leroy Calliste’s (Black Stalin) “We can Make it if We try,” which had delegates clapping along.
