In a significant development for inter-parliamentary cooperation across the Americas and Caribbean region, Senate President Carolyn Trench-Sandiford joined high-level delegates last week for the 22nd ParlAmericas Plenary Assembly and 10th Gathering of the Open Parliament Network, hosted in Ottawa, Canada. The May 2026 gathering brought together a diverse cross-section of stakeholders, including sitting parliamentarians, senior government officials, academic experts, international development partners, and private sector leaders to address pressing shared challenges across the hemisphere.
Held under the overarching theme “Parliamentary Leadership for Shared Prosperity: Advancing Trade, Innovation, and Security in a Changing World,” the assembly framed discussions around how legislative bodies can drive collective progress amid evolving global economic and geopolitical shifts. A key highlight of Trench-Sandiford’s participation was her role as moderator for a targeted working session focused on open parliamentary practice, titled “Open Parliament in Action: Strengthening Transparency, Public Engagement, and Oversight for Better Trade Outcomes.”
During that working session, participants centered their dialogue on embedding core principles of transparency, accountability, and inclusive public participation into both parliamentary processes and the development of national and regional trade policies. Beyond targeted working sessions, the multi-day event created a structured space for cross-regional exchange on a broad range of priority topics, including democratic governance, technological innovation, sustainable development, and hemispheric security. Throughout the assembly, delegates consistently emphasized the critical role that strong, independent parliaments play in reinforcing democratic institutions and laying the groundwork for inclusive, long-term economic growth across the Americas and Caribbean.