Speaker of the House of Assembly has performed what is set to be his last official duties at a major parliamentary conference in the Caribbean.

Mr. DeCouto -- who announced he was quitting politics at the end of the last session -- led a delegation from Bermuda to the annual meeting of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) this week.

And Mr. DeCouto, who chaired a session on the development of Parliamentary committees, said: "The entire conference went very well.

"You can share ideas about things, so it's of great value.'' He added: "Bermuda played a leading role in this conference because we had some positive suggestions for procedures and things of that nature.'' And he said the Island's views commanded respect as it had the oldest Parliament in the Commonwealth, outside of Britain's Westminster.

Mr. DeCouto said: "Over the years, we have established a great amount of traditions and conventions and I think Bermuda has been held in high regard for its role in preserving the tradition of parliamentary democracy in Government.'' He added that Bermuda had also been elected to the CPA Regional Committee -- thought to be the first time the Island has played such a major role.

Mr. DeCouto was joined at the 23rd conference of the Caribbean, Americas and Atlantic Region of the CPA in the Jamaican capital of Kingston by Transport Minister Erwin Adderley, Shadow Finance Minister Eugene Cox and Assistant Clerk to the House Clark Somner.

The theme of the conference was: "The Parliamentary System: A Vehicle for Development and Growth.'' Mr. DeCouto also delivered a speech on the impact of technology on Government Services during one of the five-day conference's sessions.

Mr. Cox was part of the discussion team on the second session on the use of Parliamentary Committees.

And Jamaican Prime Minister PJ Patterson warned that the global economy would have an effect on small island communities.

He added all governments were being "pushed'' to "minimise or abolish altogether'' national boundaries and even small islands would have to adapt.

During his speech, Mr. DeCouto said technological change was advancing at a rapid rate and today's developments would be overtaken by others very quickly.

And he urged the countries represented to ensure money was poured into high technology to make sure the young were not left on the starting blocks.

But he added governments had to ensure sufficient resources were allocated to information technology in the government sector.

CARIBBEAN CONFERENCE -- Bermuda's Speaker of the House of Assembly Ernest DeCouto (left of centre) is joined on the platform at a Commonwealth Parliamentary Association meeting in Jamaica by (from left) Speaker of the Jamaican House of Representatives Violet Nielson and President of the Jamaican Senate Syringa Marshall-Burnett.

HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY HOA