Press Release
Press Release from Sikkim Legislative Assembly Secretariat
Information & Public Relations Department
The Hon’ble Speaker of the Sikkim Legislative Assembly, Shri Mingma Norbu Sherpa, Hon’ble Deputy Speaker Smt. Raj Kumari Thapa, along with senior officers, participated in the 42nd Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Small Branches Conference held at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC), South Africa, on 14th September, 2026.
The Opening Session was formally inaugurated by the Chairperson, Hon. Valerie Woods, and was attended by delegates representing more than 50 Small Branches from across theCommonwealth.
The session was followed by a workshop on “The Importance of Separation of Powers in Small Jurisdictions and Supporting Parliamentary Budget Offices.” The 42nd CPA Small Branches Conference is being held under the theme “Supporting Independent and Resilient Parliaments in the Commonwealth.”
The Hon’ble Deputy Speaker, Smt. Raj Kumari Thapa, also participated in the meeting and workshops of the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP) held at the CTICC.
Later in the evening, the delegation also attended the Official Opening Ceremony and Welcome Reception of the 69th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference (CPC) was held at the CTICC. The ceremony was addressed by the President of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, Africa Region, Hon. R. Mtshwebi-Tsipane; Secretary-General of the CPA, Mr. Stephen Twigg; Chairperson of the CPA, Hon. Dr. C. Kalila; and Minister in the Presidency, Ms. M. Ramokgopa.
The 69th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference, hosted by the Parliament of the Republic of South Africa in collaboration with the CPA, is being held under the theme “Strengthening International Law and Parliamentary Democracy in a Changing World Order: Commonwealth Leadership.”
The participation of the Sikkim Legislative Assembly delegation in the conference provides an important platform for strengthening parliamentary cooperation and sharing experiences on democratic institutions, legislative independence, separation of powers and the resilience of Parliaments in small jurisdictions.
The Opening Session was formally inaugurated by the Chairperson, Hon. Valerie Woods, and was attended by delegates representing more than 50 Small Branches from across theCommonwealth.
The session was followed by a workshop on “The Importance of Separation of Powers in Small Jurisdictions and Supporting Parliamentary Budget Offices.” The 42nd CPA Small Branches Conference is being held under the theme “Supporting Independent and Resilient Parliaments in the Commonwealth.”
The Hon’ble Deputy Speaker, Smt. Raj Kumari Thapa, also participated in the meeting and workshops of the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP) held at the CTICC.
Later in the evening, the delegation also attended the Official Opening Ceremony and Welcome Reception of the 69th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference (CPC) was held at the CTICC. The ceremony was addressed by the President of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, Africa Region, Hon. R. Mtshwebi-Tsipane; Secretary-General of the CPA, Mr. Stephen Twigg; Chairperson of the CPA, Hon. Dr. C. Kalila; and Minister in the Presidency, Ms. M. Ramokgopa.
The 69th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference, hosted by the Parliament of the Republic of South Africa in collaboration with the CPA, is being held under the theme “Strengthening International Law and Parliamentary Democracy in a Changing World Order: Commonwealth Leadership.”
The participation of the Sikkim Legislative Assembly delegation in the conference provides an important platform for strengthening parliamentary cooperation and sharing experiences on democratic institutions, legislative independence, separation of powers and the resilience of Parliaments in small jurisdictions.
