The Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth (CSPOC) standing committee meeting hosted by the Isle of Man on January 14 has been hailed a success. The meeting saw senior politicians from the Commonwealth jurisdictions of Australia, Canada, India, Kiribati, Malaysia, Pakistan, Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago and the United Kingdom gathered in the Tynwald Chamber to set the agenda and determine the location for the January 2012 CSPOC, which the standing committee voted be held in Trinidad and Tobago. In addition to the formal proceedings a number of informal meetings were held between delegates and networking opportunities afforded, principally with Isle of Man Government departmental representatives. The three-day programme included tours of the Island with visits to Tynwald Hill and the Royal Chapel at St John’s, the Old House of Keys in Castletown, the Milntown estate in Lezayre, the House of Manannan, the Manx Museum and the Gaiety Theatre. The delegates also gathered for an evening reception in the Sayle Gallery, next to the Sefton Hotel, where they inspected (and bought) works by a variety of Manx artists. Additionally Speakers and Secretaries General attended a reception at Government House hosted by the Lieutenant Governor, His Excellency Vice Admiral Sir Paul Haddacks KCB. This was the first time the Island had hosted the meeting and followed agreement to a proposal by the President of Tynwald, the Hon Noel Cringle OBE MLC and the Speaker of the House of Keys, the Hon Steve Rodan at the 2008 CSPOC in London. The President said: ‘The conference programme was a great success, thanks largely to the arrangements so well organised by the Office of the Clerk of Tynwald and also to the support of external suppliers and agencies such as Isle of Man Airport whose staff ensured the swift processing and smooth transition through the airport of our distinguished guests who represent in the region of 1.5 billion people across the Commonwealth. In summary these three days were a prime example of “flying the flag for the Isle of Man” at its finest.’ Speaker of the House of Keys, Hon Steve Rodan said: ‘I echo Mr President’s comments. The Clerk of Tynwald’s office has received communications from a number of parliamentary representatives conveying their thanks and welcoming the positive outcomes of their visit. Not only were the formal elements of the meeting accomplished in a spirit of co-operation and mutual understanding but also the ancillary aspects of the three-day programme provided a rare opportunity to showcase the Isle of Man to eminent parliamentarians and set the scene for future dialogue between Commonwealth nations.’ Ends