Jamaican legislators from the Upper and Lower Houses of Parliament stepped away from the cut and thrust of debate to engage in dialogue on Wednesday as they started a post-election seminar aimed at preparing them for the demands of law-making and representation in an increasingly complex political landscape.

The three-day Post-Election Seminar, which ends on Friday at Gordon House, brings together parliamentarians in a structured programme designed to strengthen parliamentary effectiveness while reinforcing democratic standards and ensuring they are equipped with the tools needed to navigate their responsibilities.

Hosted by the Houses of Parliament, in partnership with the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) and ParlAmericas, the seminar comes at a critical time, with Jamaica facing growing demands for transparency, effective oversight, and responsive governance amid rapid societal changes.

Speaking during the opening ceremony on Wednesday, deputy head of programmes at CPA, Lydia Buchanan, underscored the importance of continuous learning for parliamentarians, describing the programme as a rare opportunity for members to strengthen their capacity to serve.

“It’s always important that parliamentarians do this for the benefit of their citizens and the people of the country they serve. I’m hoping everyone has come here with open minds, ready to hear from a breadth of experiences from across the Commonwealth. Our mentors carry with them a wealth of knowledge that I hope you’ll utilise and tap into this week,” said Buchanan.

She emphasised the value of peer learning, noting that the strength of the CPA lies in the ability of legislators from different jurisdictions to share experiences and solutions.

“This is often what makes the CPA’s work so vital, when we can learn from our peers on a one-to-one basis in a room full of colleagues that have come from across the globe to help and to assist where they can. We have heard it before, the importance of keeping those connections once this week is over and utilising that resource when you can. There aren’t many opportunities like this in your tenure as parliamentarians, so please do give your all this week and be ready to take new information on board,” added Buchanan.

Echoing those sentiments, deputy director for programme management, monitoring, and evaluation at ParlAmericas, Eilish Elliott, said the seminar was designed to support parliamentarians in meeting the expectations of the people they serve.

She explained that sessions would focus on critical areas such as parliamentary procedure, financial scrutiny, and representation and communication, which she pointed out are essential tools to building a more effective and efficient Government.

“The next three days will offer meaningful opportunities for reflection, practical knowledge sharing, and the exchange of good practises with your colleagues and with the resource persons on topics ranging from parliamentary procedure, the budget and financial scrutiny, and representation and communication, seeking to support all of you as you prepare to best serve your population in this new legislative term as the collective membership of the Houses of Parliament,” said Elliott.

For her part, Speaker of the House of Representative Juliet Holness described the seminar as a timely and necessary exercise, reminding participants that the strength of Parliament goes beyond the laws it passes.

“I am particularly pleased that this seminar includes focused attention on the review of these standing orders and on conduct, ethics, and standards. These are not merely procedural matters, they are essential to maintaining the dignity of Parliament and the confidence of the public we serve,” said Holness.

She highlighted the value of international engagement and argued that exposure to other parliamentary systems helps strengthen Jamaica’s democratic practices.

“It surprised me when persons from as far as Malaysia said we watch the Jamaican Parliament, and they had comments, they had observations. It was very surprising to me and it is a reminder to us that our Parliament, and the democracy that we execute, does not only impact and reside within our own country, but extends way beyond our shores.

“And so a strong Parliament, an efficient Parliament, one that is procedurally sound, one that is ethical and that follows good standards is one that we want to be able to maintain and to continue to emulate,” she said.

President of the Senate Thomas Tavares-Finson said the seminar provides an essential foundation for both new and experienced legislators, describing it as an opportunity to reflect, learn, and share.

He urged members to see the programme not as a formality, but as a starting point for continued development.

The seminar also aligns with Jamaica’s recent self-assessment against the CPA’s recommended benchmarks for democratic legislatures, which identified areas for institutional strengthening, improved oversight, and enhanced transparency.

Members of Parliament and senators pose for a group photo with representatives of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), and ParlAmericas on Wednesday at the start of a three-day post-election seminar. (Photo: JIS)