The CPA Parliamentary Academy, established in 2021, recently delivered their Advanced Parliamentary Development Residency Programme to over twenty (20) Parliamentarians and parliamentary staff across the Commonwealth. This programme was held at the Red House, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago from December 8-12, 2025.
The Opening Ceremony was held on December 8, 2025 with the national anthem of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, sung by members of the Parliament Choir. This was followed by brief remarks from the President of the Senate, Sen. the Hon. Wade Mark. The ceremony concluded with brief remarks by CPA Deputy Head of Programmes – Bilateral Engagement, Ms. Lydia Buchanan.
You can view the opening ceremony below.
The programme provided the opportunity for participants to work alongside mentors in order to legislate, scrutinise and advocate/educate around a single, central issue.
Mentors for this programme included Sen. the Hon. Alvina Reynolds, President of the Senate of Saint Lucia, Hon. David Agius, MP, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives of Malta, Ms. Shannon Deane, KC, Clerk of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, Dr. Dhanayshar Mahabir, former independent senator of the Parliament of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, Mr. Brian Caesar, Clerk of the House of Representatives of the Parliament of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and Ms. Chantal LaRoche, Director of Legal Services of the Parliament of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.
Photos from these sessions are available on the Parliament’s Facebook page and are linked below:
At the conclusion of the programme, participants were able to gain skills and insights in the following areas:
- Identifying the characteristics of effective parliamentarism in the 21st Century
- In-depth analysis and understanding of the legislative process
- Strengthened communication, presentation and influencing skills
- Improved scrutiny and oversight skills
- Greater utilization of engagement with external stakeholders for mutual gain
- Increased capacity around analysis, planning, evaluation and research.