CPA SETS UP PROGRAMME FOR DEVELOPING PARLIAMENTS

KUALA LUMPUR, April 17 (Bernama) -- A new support programme to assist
developing Parliaments has been established by the Commonwealth Parliamentary
Association (CPA) to provide more than 100,000 pound sterling in seed funding to
improve services and train Parliamentarians and staff to strengthen democracy.

CPA executive committee chairman Mohd Shafie Apdal said, the CPA
was helping Parliaments, especially those in developing countries, to continue
strengthening their democracies in the face of economic stresses and
uncertainties due to the global financial crisis.

Among others, he said, the programme would provide technical assistance to
the Bougainville House of Representatives, financing a staff organisation review
for the Parliament of Namibia and supporting the Parliament of Saint Lucia,
Zanzibar and Nigeria's Kwara state in making improvements to their research
services.

Support would also be given to a Parliament and the Media Workshop for
Seychelles, an Asia/India Financial Scrutiny Workshop, a workshop for women
Parliamentarians on HIV/AIDS and a programme to develop Pacific Benchmarks for
Democratic Legislatures, he added.

In a statement faxed to Bernama, Mohd Shafie said the committee, comprising
35 members representing more than 175 Commonwealth Parliaments and Legislatures,
set up the programme at its meeting from 13 to 18 April held in Hamilton,
Bermuda.

"The CPA will support projects to bring tangible benefits on the ground to
emerging Parliaments.

"Parliamentary democracy is the best way to achieve development and ensure
long-term peace and security for all Commonwealth people," he said.

Shafie, who is also the Minister of Rural and Regional Development, said the
current economic crisis would put great pressure on all the Parliaments and on
the gains they had made in development and in advancing democratic governance.

Therefore, he said, the Commonwealth community would rally round to help all
their assemblies.

-- BERNAMA