Bermuda will host a conference for presiding officers and clerks from across the region next week.

Delegates from 14 Caribbean countries will arrive on the Island on Monday for the 17th Biennial Conference of Presiding Officers and Clerks of the Caribbean, the Americas and the North Atlantic Region of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association.

This year’s theme focuses on the relevance of Parliament in today’s society and includes sessions on politics in small islands and strategies in managing contentious House debates.

The sessions will be conducted in the Blue Room at the Bermuda College.

In addition to Bermuda, delegates will represent Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Guyana, Jamaica, Montserrat, Nevis Island, St Christopher and Nevis, St Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago, and Turks and Caicos Islands.

Speaker of the House Randy Horton said in a statement: “Bermuda is very pleased to host this year’s conference.”

Acting Senate President Senator Joan Dillas-Wright said: “In the weeks leading up to the start of the conference, the Speaker and I have visited Bermuda’s senior secondary schools and shared with students the role of the Speaker and clerk and provided details of the role of the House of Assembly and the Senate.

“We encouraged students to participate in Youth Parliament which provides an avenue to our young people to understand and experience the parliamentary process.”

Mr Horton added: “This is the first time Bermuda’s legislature will host this particular conference.

“We have, in the past, hosted other regional parliamentary conferences and meetings. I anticipate the delegates will have meaningful discussions, exchange ideas and leave with a renewed commitment to ensuring that the parliamentary process in each of our jurisdictions remains rigorous.”