Basseterre, St. Kitts, January 19, 2026 (National Assembly of Saint Christopher and Nevis) –
The National Assembly of Saint Christopher and Nevis has concluded a week of high-level
parliamentary diplomacy, following its participation at the 28th Conference of Speakers and Presiding
Officers of the Commonwealth (CSPOC), held from the 14th to the 18th of January, 2026 in New
Delhi, India. The National Assembly’s Delegation was led by the Hon. Lanein Blanchette, Speaker
of the National Assembly, who was joined by Senator the Hon. Latoya Jones, Deputy Speaker of the
National Assembly and Mr. Mauriel Knight, Deputy Clerk of the National Assembly.
Since its inception in 1969, the CSPOC has aimed to foster dialogue among the Presiding Officers
of the Commonwealth, who through the association of their nations, are united in the principles of
parliamentary democracy. Similarly, the Conference offers the opportunity to facilitate inter-regional
training and exchange best practices, while serving as an opportune catalyst for parliamentary
diplomacy.
Within this iteration of CSPOC with attendees from across forty-five (45) Legislatures, Presiding
Officers explored several pressing issues including the increasing role of artificial intelligence in
Parliament, methods to bolster citizen participation beyond voting and the impact of social media on
Parliament. The National Assembly’s Delegation held several discussions with several Delegations
and Officials including the Hon. Kamaljeet Sehrawat, MP for West Delhi, India, Officials of the
Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, the Inter-Parliamentary Union along with Branches of
the CSPOC’s Caribbean Region.
Beyond the walls of the historic Central Hall of Parliament, a key highlight of the visit was a Bilateral
Meeting between the Delegation and the Hon. Om Birla, Speaker of the Lok Sabha. The Meeting
was held at the Office of the Speaker on January 16th, within the margins of CSPOC. The
Honourable Speaker Birla highlighted the longstanding cooperation between the Governments of
India and St. Kitts and Nevis. Similarly, he noted the pride that both nations held in their shared
heritage in democracy. Reaffirming India’s commitment to supporting the efforts of the Global
South, the Honourable Speaker Birla indicated the stance of the Lok Sabha to pursue further avenues
for the deepening of relations with the National Assembly. These sentiments were shared by the
Honourable Speaker Blanchette who while expressing gratitude for the warm hospitality of the
People of India, noted her desire to explore opportunities for growth in the relations between our
two Legislatures and Nations. She also shared with Speaker Birla the greetings of the Prime Minister,
Parliament, Government and People of the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis. In the Federation’s
push toward food security, coupled with the economic strides made in agriculture, both Presiding
Officers expressed a commitment to a shared partnership in this field. To commemorate the visit,
Speaker Birla, on behalf of the Lok Sabha presented the National Assembly with a copy of the
Constitution of the Republic of India.
Moreover, the National Assembly is pleased to share that emanating from a Caucus of the Caribbean,
Americas and the Atlantic (CAA) Region of the CSPOC, Speaker Blanchette has been elected as a
Regional Representative to the Standing Committee of CSPOC. The Standing Committee is the
primary managing authority of the Conference and is composed of Presiding Officers drawn from
across the CSPOC’s nine regions. Speaker Blanchette will serve the Region for a two-year term. She
is joined by the Hon. Claudius Francis, Speaker of the House of Assembly of Saint Lucia.
The Visit is in line with the National Assembly’s drive to promote parliamentary democracy,
particularly within the CAA Region. Additionally, the Visit was made possible through the kind
financial support of the Government of India. The National Assembly places on record its immense
gratitude to the Lok Sabha Secretariat, the Government and People of India, as well as the
Federation’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs for their collective assistance, warmth, support and
coordination during this period.
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