From the 14th to the 16th of January 2026, a parliamentary delegation led by Speaker Hon. Azarel Ernesta attended the 28th Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth (CSPOC), held in New Delhi, India. The Speaker was accompanied by the Deputy Clerk Ms. Alexandria Faure, and the Director of the Speaker’s Office Mr. Nickey Antat.
During the three-day conference, the delegation joined parliamentary leaders from across the Commonwealth to engage in wide-ranging discussions on democracy, institutional resilience, and the evolving nature of parliamentary proceedings. Deliberations centred on modern tools and technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) in Parliament, emerging challenges, and shared democratic values. Thematic discussions covered the impact of social media on parliamentary life, strategies to enhance citizen engagement, and the shifting responsibilities of Speakers within contemporary governance structures. These exchanges contributed to a dynamic and progressive dialogue aimed at strengthening parliamentary institutions across the Commonwealth. Furthermore, Hon. Ernesta participated in a workshop dedicated to the security, health, and wellbeing of Members of Parliament and parliamentary staff, during which she made a significant intervention on gender-based harassment. She called for supportive and responsive systems within legislative systems that safeguard the dignity, safety and professional well-being of all parliamentarians.
Speaker Ernesta held two key bilateral meetings, beginning with the Speaker of the House of Commons of the United Kingdom The Rt Hon Sir Lindsay Hoyle MP, where discussions focused on capacity building and opportunities for technical assistance to support the continued development of the Seychelles legislature. The second meeting was with the Speaker of the House of Representatives of Australia The Hon Milton Dick MP. This discourse explored potential avenues for collaboration, including the establishment of a parliamentary friendship group, capacity building initiatives, and the development of a study programme for Members and Service Staff of the National Assembly.
In a separate engagement, Hon. Ernesta held a productive meeting with the Speaker of the Lok Sabha of India Hon'ble Shri Om Birla, in which Hon'ble Shri Birla extended his congratulations on the historic achievement as the first woman Speaker of the National Assembly of Seychelles. Hon. Ernesta shared her impressions of India’s recent social, technological, and infrastructural advancements, and both leaders reflected on the longstanding affinity between the peoples of Seychelles and India. Their exchange focused on strengthening Parliament to Parliament cooperation, enhancing the use of technology and AI in parliamentary processes, and expanding tailored capacity building programmes. Hon. Ernesta further expressed interest in India’s digital parliamentary innovations and ongoing AI related initiatives, with both sides expressing eagerness to deepen this positive partnership.
