HEAD of Presidential Secretariat (HPS) Dr Roger Luncheon said yesterday that the Guyana hosting of the 34th Annual Regional Conference of the Caribbean, the Americas and Atlantic Region of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) will gather parliamentarians from democracies in the region.

Following the successful hosting of a series of international events, Guyana is slated to host the event from July 12 to 16 and he said Cabinet, at its Tuesday meeting, noted it.

Luncheon said Guyana will be represented at the forum by a bipartisan team which comprises two members of the governing People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) and one from the Opposition.

He said the opening and the business sessions will see three presentations by Guyanese, dealing with the global financial crisis and its regional impact and implications, climate change and human rights in the region.

According to him, several countries, including Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, Grenada, Antigua, Jamaica, Britain and Canada are sending delegates who, according to the local Parliament Office, will be debating socio-economic and political matters that threaten to hinder the region’s development.

Those coming from overseas are scheduled to arrive at 11:00h today and the opening ceremony will be held on Sunday at the National Cultural Centre, Mandela and Homestretch Avenues, in Georgetown while the conference will get underway on Monday at the Guyana International Conference Centre, Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara.

The association was founded in 1911 as the Empire Parliamentary Association and renamed the CPA in 1949.

It serves to provide easier exchange of information and facilitate closer understanding and more frequent intercourse among those engaged in the parliamentary governance of the various Commonwealth States.

The CPA consists of national, provincial, State and territorial parliaments and legislatures of the countries of the Commonwealth and has membership in 51 of the 52 Commonwealth member States.

Last year’s conference was held in Westminster, London, England.