GUERNSEY played an important part at an international conference held in Kuala Lumpur, despite being a small jurisdiction.
Carla McNulty Bauer. (0573110)
Chief Minister Lyndon Trott and Deputies Carla McNulty Bauer and Al Brouard represented the island at the 54th Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Conference.
The 10-day event finished on Tuesday.
Delegates from across the world travelled to the host nation, which also included those a bit closer to home, such as Jersey and the Isle of Man.
‘It was an opportunity for a small jurisdiction such as Guernsey to mix with large and affluent jurisdictions like Canada, Australia and New Zealand,’ said Deputy Trott.
‘The way the Commonwealth parliament is set up is to preserve and establish friendships, which has enormous benefits.’
Deputy Trott gave a presentation to the nations about the island and its links with larger groups such as the International Monetary Fund and the EU.
‘The talk was about how we have to invest time, money and effort in making sure that the larger constituencies understand what we are all about.
‘That they have nothing to fear, rather that they gain and benefit from it.’
This was the first time that these ministers had been to such an event. The host nation paid for their stay, while the deputies funded their own travel to the event.
Deputy McNulty Bauer delivered a paper on Protecting the Environment: Water management in Sustainable Development. It was based on the island’s policies relating to collection, storage, treatment and delivery of its water supply.
‘The CPA is an excellent environment for small places such as Guernsey to participate in. The island would be conspicuous if it wasn’t represented.’
According to Deputy Trott the conference was a good opportunity for the island to gain contacts. He met Bill Cash and Kate Hoey, well-known UK MPs, and also representatives from Canada and Australia.
‘Guernsey played a significant role from start to finish.
‘I think that the contacts that we have made will continue to be of long-term benefit to our community,’ he said.
Article posted on 16th August, 2008 - 6.59am
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6 Article Comments
Instead of wasting money sending wannabes to high level political events, why not use the money to put an end to pumping sewage into the sea!
Did they really fund their own travel?? I fnd that very hard to believe but if it is true then i applaud them and have no problems with them attending. If we (the taxpayer) funded their travel then It would perhaps be more meaningful if the delegates who attended this far flung conference actually told the public exactly what ‘ enormous benefits’ this island has gained from their attendance?
This is the age of technology and it is possible to ‘preserve and establish friendships” through tele-conferencing. We have enough highly paid IT consultants working for the States so why aren’t these possibilities being pursued? They are using them increasingly in the private sector I believe.
Deputy Brouard and Chief Minister Trott would have been better employed trying to sort out the on-going manual workers pay dispute rather than going on a jolly to the other side of the world, no wonder the island is in such a mess!
As much as I dislike these events and have yet to convinced they are of any real benefit; it’s one of those things were we have to be represented. I hope Lyndon didn’t threaten to punch anyone’s [expletive] teeth out!
We’re always going to be worried now about whether CM Trott is going to behave in an undiplomatic manner in front of overseas statesmen. It is possible to keep things quiet when they happen in Guernsey but not when he’s overseas.
That’s slightly unfair Ted. He doesn’t to deal with Barry Brehaut when he is overseas.