The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) has held an Advanced Parliamentary Development and Skills-building Residency Programme for MPs, hosted by the Parliament of Malta from 24 to 28 February 2025.
Over 30 parliamentarians from across the Commonwealth attended the CPA programme which focused on enhancing parliamentarians' soft skills in communication, planning, time management, people management, and creative thinking. This residency programme is an extension of the CPA Parliamentary Academy, the CPA's portfolio of online courses aimed specifically at parliamentarians and parliamentary officials.
The CPA Residency Programme was hosted in Valletta and was attended by MPs from Commonwealth jurisdictions, including Antigua and Barbuda; Arunachal Pradesh (India); Australian Capital Territory; Eswatini; Free State (South Africa); Ghana; Kenya; Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (Pakistan); Lesotho; Malawi; Malta; Montserrat; New South Wales (Australia); Punjab (Pakistan); Queensland (Australia); Saint Lucia; Sarawak (Malaysia); South Australia; and the United Kingdom.
The Maltese parliamentarians who participated in this programme were Katya De Giovanni and Eve Borg Bonello. Anġlu Farrugia, the Speaker of the Malta House of Representatives, welcomed delegates and gave them an overview of the political system in Malta and the Mediterranean flavours it brings about. Participants were mentored throughout the programme by current and alumni parliamentarians and experts from across the Commonwealth.
The Maltese parliamentarians who were nominated as mentors were Carmelo Abela and Claudette Buttigieg. Participants identified practical solutions to the challenges they and their jurisdictions face and worked on developing their skills through sessions on topics such as strategic thinking, diplomacy, social media, the use of generative AI, and speechmaking. On Friday, the final day of the programme, the participants took part in a simulation exercise at the Parliament of Malta. They were divided into parliamentary caucuses to run a campaign consisting of TV and radio interviews, a parliamentary speech, and a meeting with a fictitious minister.
Speaker Anġlu Farrugia led the final sitting in the afternoon. He closed the sitting by thanking the CPA for their continuous efforts in supporting MPs at all levels in their careers and for offering such opportunities to MPs all around the Commonwealth.