Finalists in the ‘Diplomat for a Day’ initiative pose with Speaker of the House of Assembly, Barbados, Arthur Holder (fourth from right), and Speaker of the House of Commons of Canada, Greg Fergus (fourth from left), following their roundtable discussions at Parliament, today. (J. Bishop/BGIS)
Finalists in the initiative ‘Diplomat for a Day’ (DFAD) were told that being a Speaker in the House of Parliament/House of Commons calls for some key characteristics to fulfil the role, including integrity, impartiality, and diplomacy.
This was emphasised during a roundtable discussion held at Parliament today with Speaker of the House of Assembly, Barbados, Arthur Holder, and Speaker of the House of Commons of Canada, Greg Fergus.
Holding the position of Speaker since June 2018, Mr. Holder told the six DFAD finalists that his role has been “very smooth and very easy” given there was no Opposition until last year; and whereas the Speaker in Canada is elected via silent voting by Members of Parliament, he was chosen by the Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Amor Mottley.
He said his job comes with a level of stringent powers that must be carried out in an unbiased manner and should not be abused.
“So, it gives you a level of control and authority that, in essence, ought not to be abused. What I will always do, and when Parliament commences, I always indicate to the entire House that this is a place where people look to for guidance, and that regardless of any political opposition, etcetera, it must always be done civilly. And if you cannot subscribe to civility within this chamber, then you are in the wrong place,” Speaker Holder stressed.
Meanwhile, Speaker Fergus, who has been in the position for a year and a half, detailed what his role in the House of Commons entails and highlighted the diplomatic, executive, and parliamentary aspects of his job. He also emphasised the importance of civility, impartiality, and transparency in carrying out his duties.
“It’s okay to be passionate. It’s okay to be competent, but I think it’s very important always for us to be polite, so that everyone can take their place and express their points of view…. The art of diplomacy is necessary and that involves figuring out when to draw the line,” Speaker Fergus said.
The roundtable discussion also covered how one becomes a Speaker within both parliamentary systems, the balance between constituent duties and parliamentary responsibilities, and the physical and mental demands of the job.
During the engagement, the six finalists briefly introduced themselves and explained why they applied to be a part of the DFAD initiative. They also had a question and answer segment with both Speakers.
Speakers Holder and Fergus both commended the finalists for seizing the opportunity to become involved in the initiative and encouraged them to advocate for spaces where dialogue with government officials and the youth can be held and to discuss issues of democracy and governance. They also touched on the role youth can play in helping to create an efficient and effective democratic, inclusive society.
Also in attendance at the session were High Commissioner for Canada, Brenda Wills; the acting High Commissioner for the United Kingdom, Charley Williams; officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, and the Canadian and United Kingdom High Commissions, and staff from Canada’s Speaker of the House of Commons Office.
Author: Sheena Forde-Craigg
Source: https://gisbarbados.gov.bb/blog/integrity-impartiality-diplomacy-necessary-in-parliament/
