Honorable Speaker, Fabakary Tombong Jatta, served as Moderator for the first plenary session of the 19th Commonwealth Speakers and Presiding Officers Conference, Africa Region, held at the Gauteng Provincial Legislature in South Africa.
Addressing fellow Speakers, Presiding Officers, and delegates, Speaker Jatta thanked the Gauteng Provincial Legislature and the people of South Africa for their warm hospitality.
The session focused on "The Role of Parliaments in Enhancing Public Trust in Governance," a theme Speaker Jatta described as timely and critical.
He stressed that public trust is the lifeblood of democracy, and that as direct representatives of the people, parliaments are the primary guardians of public confidence.
He challenged delegates to go beyond traditional representation, urging them to make legislative processes transparent, accountable, and responsive to the daily realities of citizens.
The lead paper for the session was presented by the Honorable Speaker from Botswana, and it was seconded by the Honorable Speaker from Uganda, who shared regional perspectives on governance and public participation.
Speaker Jatta further called on the delegates to engage in a spirit of shared Commonwealth values, democracy, and the rule of law.
