Between 6 and 8 November, a Parliamentary delegation, led by Deputy Speaker David Agius and comprised of Government Deputy Whip Davina Sammut Hili and Opposition Whip Robert Cutajar, participated in the 67th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference titled ‘Engage, Empower, Sustain: Charting the Course for Resilient Democracy’.
The sessions consisted of the General Assembly of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, a general debate on the subject ‘Votes vs Likes – the Role of Parliament in Strengthening Democratic Resilience in an Age of Fake News and Synthetic Media’, as well as the election of the new Chairperson.
All three members of the Maltese delegation voted for the election of the new Chairperson. Dr Christopher Kalila from Zambia was elected Chairperson of the CPA Executive Committee.
The Commonwealth Conference was addressed by CPA President Ben Franklin and Anthony Albanese, Prime Minister of Australia. In the margins of the conference, the delegation was interviewed by Victor Vella from SBS radio. The interview will be aired on a programme aimed at Maltese citizens in Australia, which amount to around 230,000 people and the issues discussed included the importance of the strengthening of the Maltese language and the values of the Maltese people besides other topics of general interest to both countries.
The delegation also attended a ceremony for the unveiling of 446 inscriptions representing 62 countries on Australia’s National Monument to Migration. Family Cauchi from Mellieħa consisting of 13 siblings and Family Fenech from Sliema who both migrated to Australia close to 60 years ago, were honoured at the ceremony and had their names listed on the ‘Welcome wall’ for migrants to Australia. Consul General of the Republic of Malta to Sydney Lawrence Buhagiar was also present for the ceremony.
Photos: HOR
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