CPA small branches need cooperation for development

Small branches of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Friday sought cooperation among them for exchanging knowledge and technical assistances to accelerate their pace of development.

"Within small branches as well as big countries, it is urgent to cement their bonding to make further progress in different areas of development," said Chris Steel MLA, a parliamentarian of small branch, in a press conference at the Hotel Radisson in Dhaka.

The press conference was held after a conference of small branches titled "Parliamentary innovation in small jurisdiction in the face of the financial and human resources challenges."

At the conference, a four-point recommendation was made, says a BSS report.

The recommendations include:

• CPA should encourage greater cooperation between small branches within and outside their regions by way of internships and exchange of technical assistance
• Commonwealth parliamentarians in small jurisdictions should, where practicable, share knowledge and resources in order to function more effectively.

The CPA small branches are a group of nations and territories that are members of the CPA. It is focusing on the problems faced by them as a result of climate change and infrastructure challenges.

Representatives of over 110 branches, out of 180, are taking part in the conference, the CPA sources said.