Extracts from the CPA Archives: 35th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference in Barbados in 1989
After a 36-year interval, the Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference (CPC) returns to Barbados in October 2025. This blog article examines the events and debates that took place when the CPC was last held in Bridgetown in 1989.
This CPA blog article was written and researched by Samuel Sallybanks during his internship with the CPA Headquarters Secretariat between January and April 2025.
The views expressed in this blog are provided by the author and do not reflect the view of the wider CPA membership.
Article posted on 12/09/2025.
CPC Opening Ceremony
On 9 October 1989, the CPA President and Speaker of the Barbados House of Assembly, Hon. Lawson A. Weekes, opened the 35th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference in the Frank Collymore Hall, Bridgetown.[i]
The Conference theme was ‘Threats to Democracy – The Commonwealth Response: The 1990s and Beyond’.[ii]
This theme drew awareness to both enduring and developing threats in the wider Commonwealth at the time, such as white-minority rule in South Africa and the re-emergence of economic protectionism, respectively.
Other prominent topics included the survival and rights of children, the environment and the illicit drug trade. Outside of the Commonwealth, the theme also reflected recent political developments in the Cold War in which support for democracy was rekindled in Eastern Europe.
The CPC also marked a significant celebration in Barbados: the 350th anniversary of parliamentary democracy.
Remarking on the anniversary, the Prime Minister of Barbados, Rt Hon. Lloyd Erskine Sandiford retraced the foundations of democracy in Barbados to the ‘Roebuck Tavern’ where in 1639, then Governor-General Henry Hawley, first held a Parliament session. In recognition of the occasion, Sandford had unveiled a monument on Roebuck Street in June 1989 honouring the site of the first Barbadian Parliament.
Sandiford also spoke of the involvement of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) in the Caribbean Region, as Barbados became the fourth country to host the annual conference from the Region after Trinidad and Tobago (1969), Jamaica (1964 & 1978) and The Bahamas (1968 & 1982), a fact that he likened to his nation’s role as no.4 in the infamous West Indian batting lineup.[iii]
Adding to this, His Excellency the Governor-General of Barbados, Sir Hugh Springer, praised the Conference delegates, who represented almost 100 Commonwealth Parliaments, for their commitment to freedom and liberty.
From beyond the CPA, the Commonwealth Secretary-General, His Excellency Shridath S. Ramphal, who was himself from Guyana in the Caribbean, spoke to delegates about the significance of the CPC in Barbados and what he intended to discuss at the upcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia.[iv]
Ramphal noted how only the Parliaments of the UK and Bermuda were older than Barbados in the Commonwealth.
1989 heralded a significant moment in Commonwealth history as it marked 40 years since the London Declaration (1949), the founding of the so-called ‘modern Commonwealth’, in which republics were permitted as members.
Following this, Ramphal pivoted to his main point: South Africa. Hailing progress made at Commonwealth summits in Nassau (1985) and Vancouver (1986), which put political and economic sanctions on South Africa, Ramphal noted the need to go further. He lamented Britain for its inaction, warned of South African President De Klerk’s duplicity, and called for the release of political prisoner, Nelson Mandela. He finished his speech with a remark on the strengths of the Commonwealth: its shared language, its advancement of science, tolerance and harmony.
Above: The commemorative stamp released to mark the 35th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference in Barbados in 1989 (CPA Archival Photograph).
First Plenary - 9 October 1989
The first plenary of the 35th CPC took place on 9 October 1989 on the topic of decolonization, the end to racism, apartheid and foreign occupation.[v]
The issue of South Africa was brought by Mr Manolis Christofides, MP (Cyprus) within the context of sanctions, discrimination and freedom. Christofides reminded delegates of the Commonwealth’s legal and moral obligation to liberate South Africa. The plenary agreed that apartheid posed a threat to democracy and discussed how to bring it to an end.
Delegates suggested that white South Africans should be given the choice to participate in a future multi-racial democracy with their property rights assured. Adding to this, Hon. Charles Kileo, MP (Tanzania) urged Parliamentarians that they had an urgent duty to protect South Africa from civil war, describing it as a ‘time bomb’.
On the international stage, the UK delegate condemned his government’s decision to stand alone in the Commonwealth against full economic sanctions on Pretoria. He praised the Commonwealth’s stronger measures agreed at Okanagan in 1987 which built on Nassau and Vancouver. Support for increasing sanctions against South Africa were voiced by delegates from Kerala, Maharashtra, Haryana and Mizoram. On a personal level, a Zambian MP offered to speak to constituents in British Conservative seats to urge them to see past the apartheid-government propaganda.
Beyond South Africa, conference delegates discussed self-government and foreign occupation. The Gibraltarian delegate spoke of his concern that the Commonwealth might impose self-determination on his country. He urged the Commonwealth to develop a nuanced approach to self-determination and listen to citizens’ views. A 1985 British Government Memo, which stated that Gibraltar would be returned to Spain upon independence, would cause further alarm should the Commonwealth continue its course.
On foreign occupation, the Cypriot delegate Christofides reinformed the plenary of the illegal Turkish invasion of his island nation in 1974. As such, 37% of the island remained under occupation protected by a 200,000 strong army, a greater population than Cyprus itself. Adding to this, the same Gibraltarian stated that Cypriots suffered to the same extent as the black majority in South Africa.
With that the plenary ended with its results indicating continued support for sanctions against South Africa, and a rejection of the Turkish occupation of Cyprus and the need for greater dialogue over self-determination.
Second Plenary – 10 October 1989
The following day, CPC delegates took part in the second plenary which concerned how worsening economies in the developing world threatened democracy.[vi] The ensuing debate saw a divide between delegates from the developed and developing world as the topics of colonialism and neo-colonialism were discussed.
Championing the developing world, Hon. Gloria Henry, MP (Trinidad and Tobago) blamed economic deterioration on colonial rule which attached countries to the export of primary products. As for the present situation, Henry attacked neo-colonialist terms of trade and stringent lending practices which continued developing nations dependence on the developed world. In this way, Henry’s statements echoed the opinions of Eric Williams, the late Trinidadian Prime Minister, in ‘Capitalism and Slavery’ (1944).[vii]
Similarly, African delegates claimed that political independence had not been followed by economic independence as nations remained tied to former rulers. To remedy this, delegates suggested that the developed world held a responsibility to train like-minded individuals in developing countries. Furthering this, representatives of smaller states added that they had become victims of international economic forces beyond their control. Delegates from the Cayman Islands suggested that small states should invest in health, education and social programmes rather than attempt to influence larger economies.
In response, delegates from the developed world relayed the initiatives that their countries had made to alleviate economic problems in developing countries. For example, the UK delegate spoke of how his government had provided extensive debt rescheduling programmes and converted loans into aid provisions. This provision gained the support of Zimbabwe, Sierra Leone and Sri Lanka. A UK delegate criticised the current state of UK aid obligations whilst another UK delegate argued that conditions on aid must continue. A delegate suggested that a Commonwealth initiative of £1.5 billion could revive the economies of the Global South and repay a debt of more than £1.2 billion owed.
Whilst this plenary divided delegates, it provided necessary debate on the negative effects that worsening economies can have on democracies.
Above: The Parliament of Barbados with the Commonwealth flags displayed outside (CPA Archival Photograph).
Panel C – 11 October 1989
Much of the proceeding debate fed into Panel C’s discussion regarding the impact of the forthcoming European Single Market on the Commonwealth termed ‘Europe after 1992’.[viii]
Panel C was chaired by Sir Peter Hordern, MP (UK) with Mr Manolis Christofides, MP (Cyprus) and Mr J.B Mildren, MP (Australia) serving as panellists. Opening the panel, Hordern warned that the European single market would not automatically improve countries outside of it and add pressure to the Lome Convention.[ix] (1975)
The panel took questions from the delegates which included: whether new markets would develop others, how hard would the UK fight for the Commonwealth, did this beckon a new age of protectionism, and what would the implications of ‘Fortress Europe’ be.
From this, delegates provided assorted lists of positives and negatives to come from ‘Europe 1992’. The positives included that it would foster unity and strength (Cayman Islands and Grenada), freedom of labour (Mauritius), open new markets (UK) and promote tourism (British Virgin Islands).
However, negatives were that outsiders would have no voice and that it may return protectionism (Canada), UK obligations to the Commonwealth may be blindsided (Australia) and developing countries may lose out to Europe (Sierra Leone). This data provides an interesting trend which demonstrated that larger states were more fearful of the European single market, perhaps as they had the most to lose, whilst smaller states, along with UK support, saw it as an opportunity for growth.
This trend was further reflected in the delegates’ suggestions on how to adapt to the single market. For instance, the representative for Tanzania suggested the creation of regional economic groupings. This was not a new idea, however, as Tanzania had previously been a member of the East African Community, which fostered regional economic integration, from 1967 until its collapse in 1977. The EAC was re-established in 2000, only eleven years after the 35th CPC.[x]
In contrast, smaller states took a more independent approach to adapt to the single market. For example, the delegate from Trinidad and Tobago claimed that it was the duty of nations to secure their special relationship with Britain, rather than Britain’s duty to care for the Commonwealth. Furthermore, Western Samoa’s representative suggested that the Commonwealth could create friendships with the European market through sport and tourism. After this, agreement was met with Panel C and delegates alike that the CPA must study the consequences of ‘Europe 1992’.
Panel E – 11 October 1989
On the same day, Panel E convened to discuss the arms race and economic development.[xi] This was chaired by Hon. Hashim Halim (Speaker of the Legislative Assembly in West Bengal), who was joined by Hon. Branford Taitt, MP (Minister for Health, Barbados) and Rt Hon. Lord Irving of Dartford (UK).
Opening the panel, Halim spoke of the need to impress on the Commonwealth Heads of Government that arms spending was unconscionable. These voices were necessary to convey that arms expenditure was unaffordable to developing countries which should prioritize funds elsewhere. Adding to this, Taitt explained that the arms race had a sinister effect on developing countries and that they had spent over US$300 billion in the Cold War. Irving made clear that as the Cold War was ending, practical proposals needed to be put into action for governments to transfer funds from disarmament to development.
Beyond the panel, delegates discussed the causes and effects of militarism. Members from the Caribbean said that insecurity promoted militarism. The Jamaican delegate noted the vicious cycle of military spending in which when one nation’s rose another rose to match with it. The Guyana delegate added that their government had spent $280 million on arms in 1988, a largely unaffordable sum. However, both agreed that progress was attainable evidenced by discussions on the Caribbean being declared a zone of peace.
A Canadian delegate discussed the effects of militarism. For instance, whilst an oil spill in Alaskan and British Columbian waters saw no action, a nuclear free zone was agreed in the Pacific with signatories including New Zealand, Canada, Australia, Russia and China. Whilst this development demonstrated ample progress in one security realm, it conveyed the inaction of another, the delegate claimed.
Overall, Panel E proved useful to the overall CPC theme of ‘Threats to Democracy’ as it clearly outlined that most delegates, especially from smaller states, were in favour of channelling military spending towards funding other areas of government as the Cold War came to an end.
Third Plenary – 12 October 1989
The third plenary on 12 October discussed the role of Commonwealth Parliaments in promoting the survival and rights of children.[xii] There was widespread support for the adoption and implementation of the United Nations Draft Convention on the Rights of the Child and agreement that governments should place a high priority on children’s rights.[xiii] However, delegates divided themselves on the necessary approach to achieve their objective with one side favouring government action whilst the other focused on legislative action.
There was support for government action on disease prevention, parental rights and the role of the family. Delegates from Grenada, Jamaica, Guernsey, The Gambia, Sierra Leone, Kenya and Jersey agreed that governments must pay ample attention to the provision of health, education and welfare services.
The Gambia’s delegate, Hon. L. J. Sonko, mandated that governments must be responsible for providing children with immunization against fatal or crippling diseases. The Caribbean provided a guiding example of this policy, with Sonto noting that Barbados spent 15% of the annual government budget on healthcare with immunization a high priority.
Opposition to this proposal was quashed by Papua New Guinea which suggested that finances could be diverted from military expenditures to healthcare, an opinion voiced previously in Panel E. Retaining parental rights and promoting the role of the family unit, instead of increasing the rights of children, were proposals put forward by Zimbabwe and the UK. The Zimbabwean delegate argued that parents must be allowed to control their children if they were to enact a right in a harmful way, whilst Derek Conway, MP (UK) said that parental rights to discipline their children must remain.
Delegates in favour of a legislative approach suggested the need for greater female participation in Parliaments, the strengthening of child abuse laws and the movement against capital punishment. The Trinidad and Tobago delegate argued that more women were needed in Parliaments to manufacture new legislation on childcare, adoption and fostering. The delegate blamed the lack of female insight in Parliaments on the fact that not every nation had ratified the UN Convention on Discrimination against Women.[xiv]
The delegate from New South Wales suggested that a legislation backed by Commonwealth initiatives could be used to counter rising child abuse committed against Aboriginal children. Adding to this, Derek Conway, MP (UK) stated that the British Government had strengthened child abuse laws in the Children’s Act 1989.[xv] Finally, the New Zealand delegate challenged Barbados on its use of the death penalty against those convicted when they were minors. Hon. Branford Taitt, MP (Minister of Health, Barbados) rejected this challenge and disagreed with external interference in Barbadian criminal law.
In all, however, it was a combined approach that won the support of the plenary speaker, Hon. Branford Taitt, MP. This approach argued that “Parliaments must press their governments both to improve services and to present legislation to provide a better life for all children.”[xvi] (P,39) This was supported by delegates from The Bahamas, Barbados, Sri Lanka and the Cook Islands.
Overall, this third approach was representative of the blend between the Executive and legislative powers in Westminster style democracies. As such, it provided a realistic approach to promote the survival and rights of children and diminish a potential threat to democracy.
General Assembly – 13 October 1989
The CPA General Assembly at the 35th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference took place on 13 October 1989, at the Dover Convention Centre. The CPA General Assembly brings together delegates from all CPA Branches. Opened by the CPA President and Speaker of the Barbados House of Assembly, Hon. Lawson A. Weekes, the CPA General Assembly covered elements of the CPA Constitution, branch governance, the Ninth Small Countries Conference (held from 5 to 6 October 1989), officers’ elections and saw the development of women’s participation groups (which later established the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP) network).
The creation of the roles of Patron and Vice-Patron of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association marked a new development in the CPA Constitution.
The status of Patron was reserved to “an exceptional person of particularly high stature, deeply interested in and dedicated to the Commonwealth.”[xvii] This office was accepted by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on 7 July 1989 who described it as the “greatest possible pleasure.”
The CPA General Assembly also saw widespread support for continuing to challenge the apartheid government of South Africa.
At the 1988 CPA General Assembly meeting in Canberra, the CPA Executive Committee had written to President Botha of South Africa. Botha’s response comprised a point-by-point rebuttal of the GA debate and attempted to “muddy the waters.”[xviii] Delegates at the CPA General Assembly agreed that had they not replied to it, it could have been seen as a victory for South Africa and so responded together in Bridgetown. This motion was led by Mr Bill Blaikie, MP (Canada Federal) and Hon. Charles Kileo, MP (Tanzania).
The CPA General Assembly in 1989 also saw CPA Branch formation and suspensions discussed. The CPA Executive Committee agreed that the CPA Gibraltar Branch could increase its delegation to two at plenary conferences following a double payment. The three Indian Sub-national Branches of Mizoram, Nagaland and Tamil Nadu were reinstated following state elections whilst the Australian Capital Territory was given CPA Branch status following its elevation to Territory status in Australia. The reported that Pakistan’s membership could not be retained yet due to only re-joining the Commonwealth in October the previous/same year.
The CPA General Assembly report from Barbados also included details of the Ninth Conference of Members from Small Countries (later the CPA Small Branches Conference) which took place between 5 and 6 October 1989. Beginning in 1981, Barbados was the ninth occasion on which members from small jurisdictions (those with less than 500,000 inhabitants), could join to discuss specific issues.[xix] In all, 29 Parliaments were represented with 70 delegates attending (14 of whom were women) for discussions on the European single market, waste and land management, and the debt crisis.
As was CPA practice, the CPC in Barbados saw the election of the President of the Association for the coming year. On this occasion, Hon. Didymus Noel Edwin Mutasa, the Speaker of the House of Assembly of Zimbabwe, was elected as CPA President in preparation for the 36th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference due to be held in Harare in 1990.
1989 also marked progress in women’s participation in the Association.
The CPA General Assembly’s minutes document that Hon. Gloria Henry (Trinidad and Tobago) asked if the Conference would discuss women’s participation. However, as no CPA Branch had suggested it, the discussion did not make the agenda.
Despite this, progress was made as an informal group called the ‘Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians’ was founded in 1989 initiated by Senator Norma Cox Astwood (Bermuda).[xx] This group intended to increase the numbers of women elected in Parliaments and Legislatures across the Commonwealth and would later be constituted as the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP) network of the CPA.
Above: The CPA's quarterly Journal, The Parliamentarian, reported on the outcomes of the 35th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference in Barbados in the first edition of 1990 (CPA Archives Photo).
Summary
In summary, the 35th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference in Barbados in 1989 saw several topics discussed in relation to the theme: ‘Threats to Democracy - The Commonwealth Response: The 1990s and Beyond’. As such, the response to the enduring apartheid government of South Africa took centre stage, with the first plenary suggesting methods to bring its downfall and the CPA General Assembly responding to President Botha.
Other threats included economic threats to democracy, in which the second plenary’s debate centred on historic and present forms of economic colonialism, whilst Panel C considered the implications of ‘Europe 1992.’ Panel E discussed arms and development, and the Third Plenary debated the methods to promote the survival and rights of children. As well as this, developments within the CPA saw Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II made Patron of the Association whilst the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP) was also established. With that the 35th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference in Barbados came to a close, with the CPA and wider Commonwealth ready to embrace the challenges of the forthcoming decade.
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References:
[i] The Parliamentarian, Journal of the Parliaments of the Commonwealth, Issue One, ‘Opening Ceremony’ (January 1990) 47-51
[ii] ‘Summary Report’ (January 1990) 7
[iii] ‘Opening Ceremony’ 49
[iv] ‘A World Of One People’, H.E Shridath S. Ramphal (January 1990) 52-57
[v] 1st Plenary, ‘Self-Determination: The contribution of Commonwealth Parliaments in efforts to achieve complete decolonization and the end of racism, apartheid and foreign occupation’ (January 1990) 9-13
[vi] 2nd Plenary, ‘The Economy: The worsening economic situation in many developing countries: A threat to democracy and peaceful co-existence’ (January 1990) 14-18
[vii] Williams, Eric. Capitalism and Slavery (University of North Carolina, 1994. Originally published: 1944)
[viii] Panel C – ‘Europe After 1992 – The effect upon Commonwealth countries’ (January 1990) 27-29
[ix] UK House of Commons - International Development - Fourth Report
[xi] Panel E – ‘Arms or Development – The arms race and economic development: Issues for Commonwealth countries with special concern for conventional weapons and stockpiles’ (January 1990) 33-35
[xii] 3rd Plenary – ‘Child Rights – What can Commonwealth Parliaments do individually and collectively to promote the survival and rights of children?’ (January 1990) 39-42
[xiii] UN Convention on Rights of a Child (UNCRC) - UNICEF UK
[xiv] Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women New York, 18 December 1979 | OHCHR
[xvi] 3rd Plenary – Child Rights (January 1990) 39
[xvii] CPA Annual Report, 1989
[xviii] CPA Annual Report, 1989, 67
[xx] Records of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association
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