Mr President;
Excellencies;
Distinguished Delegates;
Ladies and Gentlemen;
Before I begin my presentation I will take this opportunity to express solidarity with the people and the government of the United States, during this very trying time.
Mr President:
It is a privilege, once again, to participate in the deliberations of this very important gathering. We see this forum as venue to foster greater cooperation and understanding amongst ourselves as parliamentarians and as advocates for the peoples we represent.
Parliaments represent the very essence of democracy. Therefore, the importance of the role of Parliaments cannot be over-emphasized. As Presiding officers, we have a duty to ensure that the work of Parliaments is being carried out effectively. As parliamentarians we have a duty to make good law, reflecting public policy and the interests of the peoples we represent. We also have the responsibility to hold the executive to account for its actions and to ensure that the laws are being implemented in accordance with the intentions of Parliament.
But in order for Parliaments to be effective, they must first of all have the necessary capacity. Sadly, many parliaments continue to face very challenging moments, time and again, in the discharge of their duties.
The thrust of my remarks, therefore, is to call for assistance from the international community to help the weaker nations strengthen their parliamentary systems. To neglect to do so would be a disservice, not only to the populations who strive every day to inculcate the values of democracy as a way of life, but will create a disconnect in our efforts as a community, to respond effectively to the demands of the 21st century.
The Marshall Islands Parliament has been fortunate enough under the auspices of the Pacific Islands Forum Presiding Officers Conference, to receive assistance. The Presiding Officers Conference is a forum born out of the regional leaders’ vision that Parliaments play a vital role in governance. Therefore strengthening the work of parliaments would lead to greater transparency, accountability and effective governance. The Marshall Islands Parliament is now working with some development partners to begin the first phase of capacity building projects.
In addition, the need for multi-lateral cooperation is ever so urgent today, given the challenges of this century. Parliaments around the world must be able to rise to a certain threshold in the collective effort to resolve these issues. Today, the onset of globalization must certainly make us focus on the future of our local work forces. Again, the issues of HIV-AIDS, and Terrorism loom largely on the horizon. These challenges do not fall solely in the realm of economists, health experts and security experts. Rather these issues, having the potential to seriously disrupt the lives of populations en masse, justify urgent intervention by parliaments. But by the same token, Parliaments can only deal with these issues meaningfully if they have the capacity to do so. So, assistance in very practical terms, for weaker parliaments is utterly necessary.
On another front, I take this opportunity to ask this august body to reconsider the application by Taiwan for membership in the IPU. The twenty three million people of Taiwan represents too significant a portion of the world’s population to be denied a voice on the international scene.
Mr President:
In conclusion, I take this opportunity to thank all participants for their contributions at this forum. It has been a real pleasure for me to participate in these discussions and I look forward to the next gathering of Speakers.
Thank you.
