At the Annual General Meeting of the 40^th Regional Conference of the Caribbean, Americas and Atlantic held in the British Virgin Islands in 2015, The Bahamas Branch agreed to take the place of another Branch that had agreed previously to host the 41^st Conference in 2016. The Conference will be held at the Coral Towers of Paradise Island during the period 22-30 July, 2016, under the theme, "Modernization: An Essential Element for the Independence of Parliament and the Deepening of Democracy".

The Caribbean, Americas and Atlantic Region is one of nine (9) Regions of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association. The Secretariat of the Region resides in Jamaica at this time and the Clerk of the Jamaican House of Representatives, Mrs. Heather Cook, serves as the Regional Secretary.

The Purpose of the Regional Association is to provide an Organization to enable the aims and activities of the Association and the Branches in the Region to be implemented.

The aims and objectives of this 41^st Regional Conference are to:

• Promote knowledge of the constitutional, legislative, economic, social and cultural aspects of parliamentary democracy in the Region
• Enhance co-operation and understanding between Parliaments in the Region
• Continue to provide a regular means of consultation within the Region
• Encourage the study of and respect for good parliamentary practice
• Review and analyze best practices in international and Regional Parliaments
• Build an informed parliamentary Regional Community

Once The Annual General Meeting ratified The Bahamas Branch’s offer to host the Conference, the staff of the Bahamian Parliament started the preparations for the Conference. Dr. the Hon. Kendal Major, Speaker of the Bahamian House of Assembly, was named as Chairman of the Conference, and Maurice Tynes, Clerk of the Parliament, was appointed as the Co-coordinator of the Conference. He is assisted by Mr. David Forbes as Assistant Coordinator, Mr. Anthony Forbes, Mrs. Aretha Higgs, Mrs. Angela McKenzie, Ms. Asharan Lightbourne, Mrs Christina Brown, Ms. Karen Rigby, Ms. Sharine Symonette and many others.

There are several meetings within the Conference inclusive of a meeting of the Regional Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians; the meeting of the Executive Committee of the Region; the regular meeting of delegates attending the Conference, the Annual General Meeting and a Youth Parliament.

The staff of the Parliament assisted by other government agencies will constitute the Secretariat for the Conference. The Secretariat will provide clerical services, email and web services, protocol and liaison services, transportation and entertainment for delegates and others attending the Conference.