Focus on increasing parliamentary skills for new MPs at CPA Post-Election Seminar in Belize
The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) held a Post Election Seminar (PES) in Belize from 4 to 6 June 2025 in partnership with ParlAmericas. The Seminar follows elections to the Belize National Assembly on 12 March 2025, which saw the governing People’s United Party win a second successive term in power.
The Post-Election Seminar was designed to give new and returning elected Parliamentarians from the 31-seat Belize National Assembly improved knowledge and skills to undertake their parliamentary duties, legislate, scrutinise, provide oversight and represent their communities effectively. The sessions covered topics such as conduct and ethics, digital tools in Parliaments and the role of Public Accounts Committees.
The Seminar was supported by Presiding Officers from both the National Assembly and Senate of Belize. Speaker of the National Assembly of Belize and the Chairperson of the CPA Small Branches network, Hon. Valerie Woods said ahead of the seminar:
“Strengthening democracy begins with strengthening our institutions. As Speaker, I remain focused on ensuring Parliament is transparent, accessible and accountable to all Belizeans.”
Senator Hon. Carolyn Trench-Sandiford, President of the Senate of Belize, said on the purpose of the programme:
“Strengthening Parliaments begins with reimagining their purpose - not as relics of tradition, but as active instruments of justice, equity and progress.”
Clarita Pech, Clerk to the National Assembly of Belize and CPA Belize Branch Secretary, said:
“While Parliamentarians shape policy, it is the parliamentary service that ensures continuity, order and effectiveness in democratic governance. Our role, though often behind the scenes, is vital to the process.”
CPA Post-Election Seminar for Belize National Assembly
CPA Post-Election Seminar for Belize National Assembly
CPA Post-Election Seminar for Belize National Assembly
CPA Post-Election Seminar for Belize National Assembly
CPA Post-Election Seminar for Belize National Assembly
The Minister of Public Service and Governance, Henry Charles Usher, also spoke about the seminar saying:
"This seminar is very important in terms of being able to properly represent our constituents, do the work and of course be familiar with your Standing Orders. The job as a Parliamentarian, in my opinion, is to make the lives of the people we represent better and so being able to do that better is always a good thing."
The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association can play a unique role in bringing together a wide range of experts from across the CPA’s membership, bringing a Pan-Commonwealth perspective to parliamentary strengthening.
Facilitators from across the Commonwealth included:
- Senator Hon. Janelle Chanona (Belize);
- Hon. Bridgid Annisette George, former Speaker of the House of Representatives in Trinidad and Tobago;
- Hon. Tanya August-Phillips, MLC, Member of the Legislative Council of the Isle of Man;
- Hon. Brad Redekopp, MP, Member of the House of Commons in Canada and
- Chantal La Roche, Clerk of the Senate in Trinidad and Tobago.
The Post-Election Seminar was also supported by Eilish Elliott, Deputy Director of Programme Management and M&E at ParlAmericas, as well as Jack Hardcastle, Deputy Head of Programmes for Bilateral Engagement and Marshall Tisdale, Programmes Officer, both from the CPA Secretariat.
The CPA has previously held Post-Election Seminars with Legislatures across the Commonwealth including Anguilla, Kenya, The Cayman Islands and Bermuda.
-ENDS-
The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) is an international community of 180 Parliaments at national, state, provincial and territorial level working together to deepen the Commonwealth’s commitment to the highest standards of democratic governance. Visit www.cpahq.org for further information.
