Samoa's Legislative Assembly convened its first-ever Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (C.P.A.) Branch meeting on Tuesday with the Speaker saying it was long overdue. 

Chaired by the Speaker of the House, the two-day program offers an opportunity for Members of Parliament who attended the various C.P.A. workshops and forums to present on what they had learned from these different forums.

It is also an opportunity for Members of Parliament to share on issues of mutual interest as well as discuss matters that will further enhance democratic principles in parliamentary practices and procedures.

According to the Legislative Assembly Speaker, Papali'i Li'o Ta'eu Masipau, convening a C.P.A. Branch meeting had been in the pipeline since the start of the XII parliamentary term. 

"There were discussions to have this type of meeting in the past," he said. "But it was never undertaken by the previous parliamentary terms, so this is the first time we are having something like this."

Samoa became a member of C.P.A. in 1970 and the Prime Minister, Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa was chosen as the Chair of the C.P.A. some years back, according to Papali'i. 

The C.P.A. is an international community of Commonwealth Parliaments and Legislatures working together to deepen the Commonwealth’s commitment to the highest standards of democratic governance and parliamentary practice. 

Papali'i spoke about the significance of discussing the issues raised in the various meetings that members of parliament attended overseas. 

"This will give our members the opportunity to share the issues discussed during the meetings and conferences or trainings they attend and then we can all discuss ways in which these can help us with making laws suitable for our country moving forward. 

"It also gives us an opportunity to talk about ways in which to improve our parliamentary systems and decision makings and compile reports so that when we send members for this training, they can take these reports on our behalf."

The C.P.A. Branch meeting at Mulinu'u continues on Wednesday.