Message from Sir Alan Haselhurst
4 January 2012
The following message was received from the Rt. Hon. Sir Alan Haselhurst MP, Chairperson of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association International Executive Committee on 23 December 2011:
As Chairperson of the International Executive Committee of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association may I wish all my parliamentary colleagues, their families and all Saints a very happy Christmas and send all best wishes for a peaceful and prosperous New Year.
I and my colleagues on both the CPA International Executive Committee and the CPA UK Executive Committee are delighted that the arrangements for the building of an airport on St Helena are underway. The construction, opening and operating of the airport will offer enormous opportunities for all on St Helena, but there will be challenges as well.
The CPA looks forward to supporting and working with Members of the Council in the exciting years ahead and it is always a great pleasure to welcome Councillors to CPA UK's programmes at Westminster.
There is much work for the CPA to do throughout the Commonwealth. We are focussing on and giving a priority to the delivery of more and better programmes to strengthen parliamentary democracy; programmes which will also include exploring and understanding the pressures and priorities that exist in small States, Islands and communities.
I look forward to discussing these matters and learning more when I meet Madam Speaker at the Commonwealth Speakers' and Presiding Officers' Conference in January. I also hope to visit St Helena during my tenure as Chairperson.
Happy Christmas!
Yours sincerely,
Alan Haselhurst