Inter-Parliamentary Union - British Group - PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION FROM GABON 26 to 30 NOVEMBER 2007


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Delegation Reports

PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION FROM
GABON :
26 TO 30 NOVEMBER 2007

Parliamentary Delegation from the Gabonese Republic
26 November to 30 November 2007

Delegation
Daniel Ona Ondo
Deputy Speaker and Leader of the Delegation

Pierre Mounanga Loundou
Deputy, Gabonese National Assembly

Joseline Afouari Obounou
Deputy (Gabonese Democratic Party), Gabonese National Assembly

Clement Ndong Mba
Deputy (Rally for Democracy and Progress), Gabonese National Assembly

Alphonse Ndjandja
Deputy (Gabonese Democratic Party), Gabonese National Assembly

Jean Pierre Lindeme
Advisor to the Gabonese National Assembly

The delegation led by the Deputy Speaker, Mr Daniel Ona Ondo, arrived at Stansted on Sunday, 25 November and were met on arrival by His Excellency Mr Alain Mensah Zoguelet, Ambassador, Embassy of the Gabonese Republic and Dominique Rees, Deputy Secretary of the British Group IPU.
The official programme started on Monday morning with a visit to the British Museum. The delegation members were greeted by the Africa Curator, Christopher Spring, who not only showed them the African Gallery but also treated the delegation to a tour of The First Emperor, China’s Terracotta Army Exhibition.
The delegation then moved on to Parliament for a meeting with Mr Speaker who offered them a tour and a brief history of Speaker’s House.
Lunch that day was at Shepherd’s restaurant hosted by Sir Nicholas Winterton DL MP, a member of the British Group IPU Executive Committee. The theme of this lunch was the Environment and Eco-tourism and the delegation and invited guests had a very lively discussion.The delegates were able to confirm their country’s efforts in nature conservation by the creation in 2002 of 13 National Parks.
After lunch, the delegation visited the Headquarters of Shell to meet Sir Philip Thomas, Senior Adviser, Government Relations, and some of his colleagues. The delegation learned that following 50 years of profitable operation in Gabon, Shell regarded Gabon as a country able to offer a very favourable investment climate with a stable Government, and Shell therefore planned to be there for the long term.The delegation then had the opportunity to discuss with Shell what sustainable development projects they had in place to help Gabon in the future, to prepare for the day when the oil ran out.
Following this meeting the delegation enjoyed a fabulous view over London at dusk on the London Eye.
Monday’s programme ended with the official welcoming dinner in the Marriott Hotel hosted by Nigel Evans MP, Treasurer of the BGIPU and also a member of the delegation who visited Gabon in September 2005.
Tuesday morning began with a tour of the Palace of Westminster led by Lord Chidgey. The delegation then moved on to a meeting with Mike Gapes MP, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, who briefly explained the Select Committee system in the House of Commons and then went into detail on the work of the Foreign Affairs Committee. The Chairman then listened to the delegation’s concerns over the lack of UK representation in Gabon. The leader of the delegation explained that since the closure of the British Embassy there had been no representation in Gabon either by the FCO or DfID and that with no consulate anyone wishing to visit the UK had to travel to Cameroon for their visas. The Chairman undertook to report this situation to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
The last meeting of the morning was with the Lord Speaker, the Rt Hon Baroness Hayman, who spoke to the delegation about her role as Lord Speaker.
Lunch that day was at Lancaster House and was hosted by Wayne David MP, Assistant Government Whip.
In the afternoon, the delegation members went to Bush House and were met by Tim Cooke, Head of the French for Africa and Great Lakes Service. Mr Cooke told them about the history of the BBC in Africa and introduced the delegation to the team working on the French Speaking Service. The leader of the delegation also had the opportunity to record some interviews.
The delegation then returned to Parliament for a presentation on Parliamentary Procedures by Liam Laurence Smyth, Clerk of the Overseas Office. The delegation had many questions ranging from the lack of a written constitution, to state funding for parties and then to the structure of the House of Lords.
In the evening, the delegation enjoyed a dinner cruise on the Thames with Lord Roper, a member of the British Group IPU Executive Committee.
Wednesday morning began with a two-hour round-table discussion with members of the British Group IPU chaired by Roger Gale MP. This meeting was well attended and the delegation had a lively discussion with their UK counterparts on subjects ranging from the ability of the country’s oil contracts to reflect the recent increase in oil prices, to the difficulties of balancing economic development and sustainable development and finally, once again, to the lack of UK diplomatic representation in Gabon, a topic of great concern to the delegation.
After the discussions, the delegation observed Prime Minister’s Question Time, and this was followed by lunch in the Astor Suite hosted by John Austin MP.
Following lunch, the delegation headed to the airport for a flight to Edinburgh.
The first night in Edinburgh was spent at a dinner at Edinburgh Castle hosted by Maureen Watt MSP, Minister for Schools and Skills
Thursday morning began in St Andrew’s House with a presentation on the constitutional position of Scotland by Trevor Lodge, Head of the External Support Division. The delegation then moved on to Parliament where they were given a tour of the new building before watching a very lively First Minister’s Questions with Mr Alex Salmond MSP and Wendy Alexander MSP. Lunch that day took place in Member’s Dining Room and was hosted by Alasdair Morgan MSP. The afternoon was spent on a tour of Edinburgh Castle and a visit to the Scotch Whisky Heritage Centre.
After a morning at leisure on Friday, St Andrew’s Day, the delegation returned to London and then departed for Paris and eventually Gabon early on Saturday morning.