Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla led the Indian Parliamentary Delegation (IPD) on a formal visit to the National Assembly of Barbados, on the sidelines of the 68th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference (CPC) in Bridgetown, marking a significant moment in India’s parliamentary diplomacy.
Birla and the Indian delegation were warmly received by Arthur Holder, Speaker of the House of Assembly of Barbados. The discussions between Indian and Barbadian lawmakers focused on strengthening mutual cooperation, deepening democratic engagement, and enhancing collaboration on global platforms.
During the visit, Birla viewed the historic Speaker’s Chair in the Barbados Parliament – a gift from the Government of India in 1966, commemorating Barbados’ independence. Crafted from Indian teakwood and hand-carved by twelve Indian artisans, the chair bears the inscription, “From the People of India to the People of Barbados,” symbolising the enduring friendship between the two nations.
Birla described the chair as a “living example of India-Barbados friendship” and underscored the shared democratic traditions, parliamentary systems, and cultural values that bind the two countries. Both sides agreed to explore new avenues of cooperation in education, renewable energy, culture, and parliamentary exchanges.
During his stay, the Lok Sabha Speaker also interacted with members of the Indian diaspora in Barbados, praising their contributions to the island nation. He lauded their unity and cultural pride, noting how festivals such as Diwali, Holi, Ganesh Chaturthi, and Navratri strengthen community bonds. Birla encouraged the diaspora to preserve Indian languages and traditions, ensuring they are passed on to future generations.
Highlighting India’s global achievements under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, Birla spoke about India’s advances in space technology, artificial intelligence, and digital innovation. He also described cricket as a “vibrant cultural bridge” connecting India and Barbados.
As part of his engagements at the 68th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference, Speaker Birla held a series of bilateral meetings with his counterparts from Australia, Barbados, Jamaica, and Zambia.
In his meeting with Sue Lines, President of the Australian Senate, Birla highlighted the growth of the India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership since 2020. He discussed cooperation in defence, trade, renewable energy, and technology, and invited Lines to attend the 28th Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth (CSPOC) in New Delhi in January 2026.
During his bilateral discussions with Arthur Holder, Speaker of the House of Assembly of Barbados, both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to working together at multilateral platforms such as the United Nations, G-77, and CARICOM. They explored opportunities to strengthen parliamentary exchanges, adopt best legislative practices, and integrate AI-driven tools for citizen-centric governance.
In a separate meeting with Juliet Holness, Speaker of the House of Representatives of Jamaica, the two sides discussed promoting legislative transparency and efficiency through capacity-building and technology integration. Birla also extended an invitation to her to participate in the 28th CSPOC in New Delhi.
Birla’s meeting with Nelly Mutti, Speaker of the National Assembly of Zambia, focused on deepening India-Zambia parliamentary cooperation. Both leaders discussed leveraging technology and artificial intelligence to modernize legislative processes and strengthen people-centric governance.