The Assistant Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation, Hon. Alitia Bainivalu is currently attending the 63rd Session of Parliamentary Meeting Assembly of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) and 43rd Session of the African, Caribbean, Pacific-European Union Joint Parliamentary Assembly (ACP-EU JPA) in Brussels, Belgium.
This was a back-to-back meeting which began on Monday 19th June to Friday 23rd June and continued with the ACP-EU JPA from Saturday 24th June to Wednesday 28th June.
A total of fifty-six (56) countries participated in the OACPS meeting, which was attended by Members of Parliament, Speakers and Deputy Speakers of the ACP Parliaments.
Hon. Bainivalu attended the Standing Committee meeting on Political Affairs which discussed important topics including artificial intelligence in international peace and security; the humanitarian situation and conflicts in the African continent.
The 63rd OACPS Assembly discussed issues on paperless dialogue on Small Islands Development States (SIDS), additional financial resources, promoting inclusive dialogue, partnerships, diaspora engagement and the need for visibility for the OACPS.
Two urgent topics with accompanying resolutions were debated and voted on during the ACP-EU JP Assembly; the humanitarian and security situation in Haiti and the humanitarian situation in OACPS countries affected by terrorism.
Other debates were on the critical raw materials, energy transition and climate change in the EU-ACP cooperation, Hybrid threats and Reform of the United Nations Security Council.
More than three hundred delegates attended the ACP-EU JP Assembly.
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Parliament Office will close on the following days, for the non-essential functional units –
(a) Friday, 27 December 2024;
(b) Monday, 30 December 2024; and
(c) Tuesday, 31 December 2024.
The non-essential functional units that will be closed on those days are the Tables, Hansard, Research and Library Services, Committees, Inter-Parliamentary Relations and Protocol, Monitoring and Evaluation, and Civic Education and Media.
The essential functional units that will remain operational with the necessary/appropriate staffing arrangements are the ITC, HR, Accounts, Assets and Transport.
We humbly apologise for any inconvenience that may be caused.