The Honourable Sooroojdev PHOKEER, GSCK, GOSK, Speaker of the National Assembly chaired, this Wednesday November 09 in Antananarivo, Madagascar, the meeting of the Speakers of the National Assemblies of the Member States of the Indian Ocean Commission within the framework of the revitalization of the Association of Parliamentarians of the Indian Ocean Commission (AP-IOC) in his capacity of President of the Association.
The Honourable Christine RAZANAMAHASOA, President of the National Assembly of the Republic of Madagascar, The Honourable Abdallah Saïd SAROUMA, Vice-President of the National Assembly of the Union of Comoros, Hon. Gervais HENRIE, Vice-President of the National Assembly of the Republic of Seychelles, as well as the officers of the Indian Ocean Commission and the staff of the Secretariat of the IOC-PA Member States participated in this important meeting.
In his opening address to the meeting, the Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Mauritius pointed out that the initiative to create an association of IOC parliamentarians dates back to 1997.
He also pointed out that following the working meetings for the re-launch of the Association in October 2015, the preparatory working group was held from 24 to 26 November 2015 in Mauritius in the presence of Member States.
To note that the fruitful deliberations motivated the Member States to set up a platform for parliamentarians to express themselves on issues of common interest concerning the region.
The Speaker expressed his satisfaction with the approach taken by the IOC General Secretariat, which was mandated to mobilize additional resources to sustain the actions of the IOC-PA. Thus, the IOC was able to mobilize funds for a program of governance, peace and stability to the tune of 8 million Euros from the French Development Agency, which also reserves an important component to the revitalization of the IOC-PO.
The meeting of Presidents called on Member States to bring this association to a successful conclusion in order to safeguard the common interests of Member States in the region within a legislative framework so that parliamentarians can make their voices heard through their deliberations.
In a press briefing in Antananarivo, Hon. Sooroojdev PHOKEER, GSCK, GOSK, shared the positive outcomes of the meeting of the IOC-PA Speakers for the revitalization of the Association and thus stated that
- The deliberations again motivated the Speakers of the Member States to establish the IOC-PA to provide a platform for parliamentarians to speak on issues of common interest to the Indian Ocean Member States.
- The Indian Ocean Commission will continue to serve as the Secretariat of the Association in the operationalization of the IOC-PA.
- Member countries have been mandated to ensure a budgetary allocation for the proper functioning of the Association in order to ensure the sustainability of the IOC-PA.
