The 28th Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth (CSPOC) was hosted this year in New Delhi, India, from January 14th to 18th 2026.
Montserrat was presented with an opportunity to engage in dialogue with officers from other diverse constitutional, legal, and parliamentary traditions as part of this high-level parliamentary forum of the Commonwealth of Nations. Honourable Ms. Marjorie Smith – Speaker, Honourable Mr. Dwayne Hixon – Parliamentary Secretary and Dr. Judith Baker – Clerk of the Legislative Assembly joined the contingent of participants, from 53 national parliaments of sovereign states of the Commonwealth, as well as 14 semi-autonomous parliaments.
A true reflection of today’s environment with its evolving challenges to parliamentary functioning and democratic resilience, the discussions focused on current challenges facing legislatures and modern democratic practices. The bi-annual conference took a deep dive into the following themes:
- AI in Parliament – Balancing Innovation, Oversight and Adaptation;
- Social Media and its Impact on Parliamentarians;
- Innovative Strategies to enhance Public Understanding of Parliament and Citizen Participation beyond voting; and
- Security, Health and Well-being of Members of Parliament and Parliamentary Staff.
A key takeaway from the conference for the contingent, reflected by the Honourable Speaker, was guided by the timeless Indian philosophy of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” – the world is one family. The 28th CSPOC provided a rich platform for Speakers and Presiding Officers to exchange varying experiences and perspectives on issues of vital contemporary importance to the functioning of Parliaments across the Commonwealth, in a congenial environment marked by openness and mutual respect.
For further reading on the conference, see the link below:
28th Commonwealth Speakers’ Conference Strengthening Parliamentary Dialogue
📞 For further information, please contact:
Legislature Department
Tel: (664) 491-2195
Email: legis@gov.ms
