46th CPA Conference: “Democracy is that engine that drives development” – Pres Ali tells delegates

…urges action plan to safeguard democracy

Having recognised the threats to democracy, President Dr. Irfaan Ali has challenged the delegates participating in the 46th Conference of the Caribbean, the Americas and the Atlantic (CAA) Region of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) to draft an action plan to address issues such as threats to territorial sovereignty, climate change and disadvantages of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
The conference which opened on Monday is being held from September 1-7, 2024, under the theme “Democracy: Challenges Facing Modern Parliaments.”
The Guyanese Leader suggested that the action plan focuses on way in which governments can better equip parliaments to resist these threats and guard against erosions that are detrimental to democratic norms and values.
Additionally, he recommended that it include strategies to address climate change at the policy level and a robust framework outlining how parliaments can properly manage AI in a way that promotes the dissemination of factual information to the general public.
According to the Head of State, these mediums will play a pivotal role in ensuring that democracy is maintained nationally and sustained regionally.
“AI is going to become a critical challenge for democracy because democracy is built on a foundation of trust, it is built on a foundation of facts. How are adjusting our parliamentary systems to fact check, or to ensure AI does not take over our parliamentary systems and we become a source of misinformation in countries and society”.
“This is why I believe that much more can and should be done to foster a culture of dialogue and inclusion. Democracy strives in an environment where diverse voices are heard and where differences are respected. In our increasingly polarised world, it is more important that ever that we promote dialogue and understanding. Both within our parliaments and within our societies,”
Further, on the regional and international front, President Ali disclosed that Guyana is working to increase dialogue on democracy among leaders in the Caribbean, Latin America and wider hemisphere.
On this point, he underscored the importance of ensuring that democracy stop being a subject for lectures and instead be embedded in all aspect of societal life and national architecture.
“Democracy is not a political commitment, democracy is not confined to a political definition, democracy is that engine that drives development, the shield that protects human dignity and the framework that enables society to thrive. When democracy flourishes, so too does economic development. When the rights of the people are upheld, when the voices are heard and when their representatives act in their best interest nations are empowered to reach their full potential,” Ali said. (G1)