The workshop will bring together committee Chairs, Members, and clerks from legislatures across the region, including Trinidad and Tobago, Montserrat, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, British Virgin Islands, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Guyana, Barbados, Bermuda, and the UK to facilitate peer-to-peer discussions on how to enhance effective scrutiny of government spending and trade policy.
This opening session will explore the important features of effective parliamentary scrutiny, with a focus on the work of committees, and how to hold inquiries that achieve impact.
A challenge to ensuring committees are able to meet and conduct inquiries is the
demand on
Members’ time. This session will allow Members’ to share their experiences and
strategies to
managing multiple responsibilities.
This session will explore the importance of effective time management and
communication when
conducting successful inquiries. Clerks will look into more specifically how
task allocation and
prioritising, and positive working relationships with members can streamline
parliamentary
oversight.
Outlining the key steps in the inquiry process, this session will ensure PAC
Members and
supporting staff can explore and identify the limited resources available to
them as scrutineers
of public finances, to obtain authoritative data to prepare and conduct
inquiries effectively. A
particular focus will be put on smaller legislatures, when considering how
priorities are set and
sharing good practice for tackling the issue of PAC backlogs.
During this discussion, Members will explore the various mechanisms for oversight
and scrutiny of
trade agreements and government policy, that exist in their legislatures, as
well as the strengths
and the
solutions to any gaps that exist.
In this session, participants will hear from UK
Members on inquiries conducted by various
committees in the UK Parliament into
international agreements. During this
session, delegates will explore how
committees prepare for inquiries, gather
evidence on the subject and develop
meaningful recommendations to the UK
Government on its approach to negotiations,
agreements and the development of policy.
Clerks and officials will explore techniques
for preparing informative and concise
briefings for their Members ahead of an
inquiry.
Including group photo
Ensuring wider audiences have an understanding of the work of legislatures is key to improving public understanding of parliamentary democracy. Using the Parliament of Trinidad & Tobago as a case study, this session will explore how legislatures can use different communications strategies to share their messaging and engage with key stakeholders.
In this session, Members will map out the
key stakeholders in relation to committee
scrutiny in their jurisdiction. Participants
will share how these key relationships are
built and maintained in order to strengthen
the work of their committees.
This session will consider the resources
available to clerks and parliamentary
officials, to support in their day to day
roles. The discussion will consider how
parliaments can make best use of their
resources to facilitate informed scrutiny,
including new digital technologies.
In this session, delegates will discuss the meaning and importance of ensuring
PACs take a
gender-sensitive approach to inquiries and recommendations to
government.
Measuring the gender responsiveness of trade policy is key to ensuring women are
not left behind
when it comes to the benefits of agreements. This session will explore the
various approaches to
gender mainstreaming, including dedicated gender clauses.
In this session, clerks and
officials will have the
opportunity to come together
and discuss the challenges,
solutions and opportunities
they face in their respective
parliaments, through an open
collaborative discussion.
Delegates will be introduced to and
updated on the work of CAPAC by the
Secretariat held by Trinidad and Tobago.
Natural disasters and the Covid-19 pandemic demonstrated the importance of
diversified economies
and ensuring development is sustainable. In this session delegates will hear
about different
growth opportunities for accelerating economic recovery across the
Caribbean.
Consensus is key to ensuring parliamentary committees produce strong reports with impactful recommendations. Keeping party politics at the door allows parliamentary committees to perform their oversight duties effectively and this session will bring delegates together to discuss the challenges to this as well as best practice in cross-party working.
Delegates will be taken through the format and aims of the upcoming Committee Inquiry Exercise.
Supplementary questions, the use of tone,
as well as clear and concise points, are
different approaches to questioning
witnesses before an inquiry. This session
will allow Members to compare the
strategies they implement in order to
gather quality evidence from witnesses,
ahead of the Committee Inquiry Exercise
later on in the programme.
This session will explore the key tools
required to prepare effectively for an inquiry,
looking specifically into evidence gathering,
stakeholder engagement and communication
strategies.
In this session Members will compare the
requirements for government response to
reports in their jurisdictions and compare
approaches to engaging with government
on recommendations from an inquiry.
This practical session will explore how clerks
can support their Members by producing
SMART recommendations to government.
Taking a collaborative approach, delegates
will compare strategies for ensuring reports
accurately reflect an inquiry’s findings and
how to clearly communicate these as
recommendations.
President of the Senate of Trinidad and Tobago
Dress Code: Casual
Delegates are asked to make arrangements to arrive into the Piarco International Airport
in Piarco, Trinidad.
Participants who arrive on the official arrival date and whose flight details are
communicated to the Conference Coordinator will be greeted on arrival
at the airport and transported to the Hilton Trinidad & Conference
Centre, where Conference participants will be accommodated.
The Parliament is a mere 15 minute drive from the Hilton Trinidad & Conference Centre
The Trinidad and Tobago Branch and UK Branch of the Common Wealth Parliamentary Association will be responsible for the following:
All participants will be accommodated at the Hilton, Port of Spain, Trinidad. Breakfast will be included on all days.
Photo Courtesy: Hilton Trinidad And Conference Centre
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The currency unit of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago is the TT dollar. There are bills to the
value of TTD$1.00; TTD$5.00; TTD$10.00; TTD$20.00; TTD$50.00; TTD$100.00.
The Sterling, Euro and US Dollar cash and travellers' cheques are freely negotiable at any bank, major
business place or hotel.
The TT dollar floats against the US Dollar. The current exchange rate is TTD $6.79 = USD $1.00.
The TT dollar floats against the British Pound. The current exchange rate is TTD $8.61 = GBP
£1.00.
Click here to view the current exchange rate at Central Bank.
For the duration of the Conference, medical coverage (for minor ailments) will be provided. The Port of Spain General Hospital is situated within close proximity of the Conference venue in case of an emergency.
The Conference organizers will be responsible for the transportation of all participants from the airport on arrival, to the airport on departure and for all official activities. Participants are asked to be punctual for the scheduled transfers.
Tour of the Trinidad and Tobago Parliamentary complex including Parliament Chambers, Rotunda Gallery and Parliamentary Museum.
Under the International Travel and Health Requirements, Trinidad and Tobago requires a valid yellow fever vaccination certificate from travellers over one (1) year of age coming from infected areas.
Dress Code: Business Attire
© 2024
Organization: Office of the Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago
Email: iprc@ttparliament.org
Work: +1 (868) 624 7275 ext: 3120
Fax: +1 (868) 625-4672
Parliamentary Complex
Cabildo Building
St. Vincent Street
Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago