MPs spend first week in office learning their role

PHILIPSBURG–Most people get a job based on their experience, but in the case of Members of Parliament (MPs), in particular the newly-elected ones, getting a crash course on what their role is and about the organs forming the country’s checks-and-balance system was the first activity of their term in office.

MPs were exposed to debating techniques and had presentations from the high councils of state and other advisory bodies throughout last week. The current fourth batch of 15 MPs were sworn in on Easter Monday.

The “Orientation Week” organised by the Secretariat of Parliament featured a presentation from Parliament’s General Secretary on “practical matters” concerning Parliament. The goal of this week was “to equip” MPs with the tools for them to execute their role in the 2018-2022 team.

A “masterclass” on the role of Parliament in the constitutional framework, the competencies and responsibilities of Parliament, the organisation of Parliament, the Rules of Order and tasks of Parliament was conducted by Luciano Milliard, a constitutional law consultant and lecturer at University of Aruba.

MPs who followed the course participated in an interactive session on the legislative process and the role of Parliament as a whole and of individual members in this process. The phases of a draft national ordinance and templates to enact legislation were also covered in the masterclass.

MPs tested their knowledge with a mock debate and explored their role in a wider context by discussing their political parties’ ideologies and kingdom and regional organizations.
Presentations were also made to MPs during orientation week by the General Audit Chamber, Council of Advice, Ombudsman and the Social Economic Council SER.

The week rounded off with protocol training, including etiquette, to help MPs with their function locally and internationally. Bengt-Arne Hulleman and William Hanson of Netherlands-based Protocolbureau B.V. executed this part of the orientation.

MPs were rewarded with a certificate of participation by the trainer at the end of orientation week.

Source: The Daily Herald https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/75546-mps-spend-first-week-in-office-learning-their-role

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