HOA Speaker delivers keynote address at UK forum

House of Assembly Speaker Corine George-Massicote delivered the keynote address at the Fourth Commons and Overseas Territories Speakers’ Conference (COTSC) held in London, United Kingdom.

The forum, hosted by the Speaker of the UK House of Commons, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, brought together Speakers and Clerks from several British Overseas Territories, including Anguilla, Bermuda, Gibraltar, Montserrat, and the Falkland Islands.

George-Massicote’s keynote was delivered during a session titled “Keeping Democracy Running,” where she spoke on managing security threats to parliaments.

She outlined 10 key measures for maintaining security in parliamentary operations, including establishing governance frameworks, strengthening physical and online defences, and fostering a strong internal security culture.

She stressed the need to “understand the specific threats facing your institution” and “regularly review and update your security framework.”

The Speaker also emphasised that parliaments worldwide face shared risks despite differences in size and context. “Parliaments worldwide face common physical and virtual threats that can affect their stability, productivity, reputation, and prosperity,” she asserted.

The presentation was followed by an expert panel from the UK Parliament, which included the Directors of Cyber and Information Security, Security, and Strategic Business Resilience. The panel backed George-Massicote’s points, providing examples from their own operations.

The four-day conference concluded with a special audience with King Charles III at Buckingham Palace. His Majesty, the Patron of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), engaged the Speakers in brief discussions during the visit.

George-Massicote was accompanied by Deputy Clerk of the House of Assembly, Linton Leonard, as part of the BVI delegation.

The House of Assembly is a member of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and uses international forums like the COTSC to share best practices and enhance democratic governance.

The House continuously strengthens its institutional capacity through these engagements and fosters collaboration with other Commonwealth legislatures.

The COTSC is a recurring event designed to promote knowledge-sharing and unity among UK and Overseas Territories’ parliamentary leaders. This year’s forum ran from May 13 to 16, 2025.