The Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago recently hosted the fifth (5th) Commonwealth Association of Public Accounts Committees (CAPAC) Conference. It followed the theme “Advancing Accountability: Strengthening the Independence, Capacity and Impact of Public Accounts Committees (PACs) across the Commonwealth”. This programme was held at the Red House, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago from June 9-10, 2026.
The Opening Ceremony was held on June 9th, 2026 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 the Honourable Jagdeo Singh, MP Speaker of the House of Representatives.
The conference is convened every two (2) years and hosted on a rotational basis among CAPAC member jurisdictions. The Conference serves as a key forum through which Members share experiences, discuss emerging challenges in public financial scrutiny, and examine developments in best practices that enhance accountability, transparency, and good governance. It also provides the opportunity to convene the General Meeting of the Association, during which elections to the CAPAC Executive Board and Executive Committee are conducted, as necessary.
Through presentations, panel discussions, and interactive sessions, participants examined innovative approaches to strengthening Public Accounts Committee (PAC) independence, enhancing oversight practices, and maximizing the impact of PAC recommendations on governance and accountability outcomes.
The conference aimed to strengthen the effectiveness and resilience of PACs within the Commonwealth, with particular focus on the Caribbean region, and to advance the framework for ongoing dialogue, sustained collaboration and continued engagement among Commonwealth nations.
There were a total of twenty one (21) participating legislatures, and fifty five (55) participants – thirty three (33) in person participants, and twenty two (22) virtual participants.
At the conclusion of the programme, participants were able to gain skills and insights in the following areas:
- To examine and reinforce institutional frameworks including legal, procedural safeguards that support the independence of PACs.
- To build technical capacity for effective public financial oversight.
- To examine real-life impact, of PACs by comparing national follow-up and monitoring mechanisms for implementing PAC recommendations.
- To enhance the platform for peer learning and technical exchange through shared experiences.
- To enhance regional cooperation among PACs.
- To strengthen the PAC networks across the Commonwealth by sharing lived experiences, deepening collaboration and expanding global professional networks.
Here are some photos from the event:
You can view more photos of the Conference by following the links below:
Day 1: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1414058727415017&type=3
Day 2: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1414956077325282&type=3