Honiara, Solomon Islands - The 52nd Presiding Officers and Clerks Conference (POCC) for parliaments of the Pacific, New Zealand and Australia is concluding in Honiara today, with attendees from across the region meeting under the theme of Building Strong and Resilient Parliaments.

In an era where the demands on democratic institutions are greater than ever before, there remains a critical need for legislatures that are robust and fit for purpose. The three-day event, hosted by the National Parliament of Solomon Islands, aims to share good practices, strengthen parliaments and parliamentary democracy across the Pacific.

Given the unique nature of the roles of Presiding Officers and Clerks in Parliament, they often find themselves in a distinct position, setting them apart from other parliamentary roles. With that in mind, the conference provides an opportunity for Presiding Officers and Clerks to establish connections with colleagues from parliaments across the region to foster knowledge exchange, discuss shared experiences, and remain updated on recent parliamentary developments.

The POCC was supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Pacific Office in Fiji through two of its parliamentary development projects: phase two of the Pacific Parliamentary Effectiveness Initiative, funded by the Government of New Zealand; and the second phase of the Strengthening Legislatures in Pacific Island Countries Project, funded by the Government of Japan.

Both projects aim to increase transparency and accountability in governance institutions, within both formal and informal decision-making processes, as well as champion regional cooperation and information sharing.  

The conference acts as a true representation of the ethos of UNDP’s work with parliaments across the region, bringing together the Pacific family to share best practice and discuss matters of interest to all. It also places a particular importance on efforts to encourage more women into the political and decision-making space.  

Speaker of the Kiribati Parliament, Ms. Tangariki Reete, said that events such as this provided a fantastic opportunity to exchange knowledge and network with fellow Pacific parliamentarians.  

“I am grateful for the opportunity to be here, to meet my peers and colleagues from the Pacific, Australia and New Zealand and partners like UNDP and the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association. The twinning meeting gave us an opportunity to dialogue with our twin parliaments about our priorities in Kiribati, how the twinning programme can benefit us and where the ACT can support us in the future. I thank UNDP for their assistance to Kiribati Parliament and other Pacific delegations this week,” she said.  

Deputy Speaker of the Bougainville House of Representatives, Hon. Theresa Kaetavara, added that the chance to meet with women parliamentarians from across the region was invaluable.  

“I have learnt so much this week and I thank the Parliament of Solomon Islands for a great programme. I especially enjoyed talking to women representatives from the Pacific, Australia and New Zealand. I have made many new friends and expanded my network,” she said.