Botswana parliament speaker attends speakers’ conference

Gaborone, Botswana (PANA) - The Botswana parliament speaker is scheduled to attend the 25th Conference of Speakers’ and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth (CSPOC).

The Speaker of the Botswana National Assembly, Phandu Skelemani, will attend the conference to be held from 6 to 10 January 2020 in Ottawa, Canada.

The aims of the conference are for the maintenance, fostering and encouragement of the impartiality and fairness of speakers and presiding officers of parliaments.

The conference will also aid in the promotion of knowledge and understanding of parliamentary democracy in its various forms and the development of parliamentary institutions.

The topics to be discussed at the conference are parliamentary engagement, openness, transparency and accountability.

The speakers will also be taught connecting parliament and citizens effectively and efficiently with leveraging technology to deliver relevant and timely parliamentary information and messages.

The attendees will also be taught challenges and opportunities arising from the displacement of a parliamentary assembly, procedural, ceremonial and administrative implications of the renovation and rehabilitation of parliamentary buildings, Business continuity during urgent and unforeseen temporary displacements.

According to Botswana Office of the President information desk, security of Individuals in the parliamentary context and beyond will also be taught to the speakers, including  emerging cyber security issues and the implications on parliamentary privilege,  social media as an effective tool, not a weapon and Ensuring continued access, yet security of individuals.

There will be Special plenary topic which is about the role of the speaker in supporting emerging procedures and practices embracing the changing face and needs of parliament.

-0- PANA MS/VAO 6Jan2020