ISTANBUL, TÜRKIYE – Diplomatic engagement between small island nations and global parliamentary bodies took center stage this month, as the 152nd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) brought together parliamentary leaders from across the globe for talks on cross-border cooperation and shared global challenges. On the sidelines of the week-long gathering, Hon. Eric Evelyn, Deputy Premier of Nevis and elected representative to the National Assembly of the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis, held a formal courtesy call with outgoing IPU Secretary-General Martin Chungong on April 17, 2026.
Chungong, a trailblazing leader who made history in 2014 when he became the first African and the first non-European to take up the post of IPU Secretary-General, will wrap up his third and final term in office on June 30 this year. Throughout his 12-year tenure, Chungong has centered his leadership on advancing progressive global priorities, from youth political empowerment and gender parity in parliamentary governance to improved child health outcomes and international action on environmental sustainability. Re-elected twice to the role, he leaves a legacy of expanded inclusion and advocacy for underrepresented nations in global parliamentary dialogue.
Evelyn, who is leading St. Kitts and Nevis’ delegation to the 152nd IPU Assembly, characterized the discussion as warm, constructive, and mutually beneficial.
“I brought greetings from the Speaker and all Members of our National Assembly, as well as from the entire Government and people of St. Kitts and Nevis,” Evelyn shared in comments following the meeting. “I also extended our sincere gratitude to both the IPU and the Government of Türkiye for their generous hospitality, and for giving our delegation the chance to take part in this critical global gathering.”
Beyond formal greetings, Evelyn offered his personal congratulations to Chungong for his exceptional leadership and decades of impactful contributions to global parliamentary cooperation across his three terms in office.
In response, Chungong expressed his appreciation for St. Kitts and Nevis’ long-standing active engagement with IPU initiatives, and reaffirmed the organization’s unwavering commitment to supporting the Caribbean federation, most notably through targeted capacity-building programs for national parliamentary actors. He also issued an encouragement for the National Assembly of St. Kitts and Nevis to move toward full IPU membership in the coming years.
Chungong underscored the IPU’s core commitment to inclusive global participation, noting that even non-member parliaments are welcomed to contribute to the body’s work through participation in key events and development-focused initiatives aligned with national priorities.
The 152nd IPU Assembly has served as a platform for delegates to address a wide range of pressing global issues, with a particular focus this year on climate action and environmental protection – a topic close to Evelyn’s professional portfolio. In addition to his roles as Deputy Premier and parliamentarian, Evelyn serves as Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries in the Nevis Island Administration. On April 19, he took on a leading role at the assembly, moderating a dedicated workshop titled “Parliamentary Leadership in Protecting Our Blue Planet.” The session brought together parliamentary leaders to discuss urgent interconnected challenges facing coastal and island nations, including accelerating sea level rise, accelerating declines in marine biodiversity, and the urgent need to protect fragile coastal ecosystems.
The meeting between Evelyn and Chungong marks another step in deepening ties between the Caribbean federation and the world’s largest international parliamentary organization, with continued collaboration on capacity building and climate action expected in the years ahead.