speech at the 43rd Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Conference in Port Louis, Mauritius.

Sen. Swan -- who attended the conference with Opposition Sen. Milton Scott, Shadow Home Affairs Minister Alex Scott, and some 500 delegates from 43 countries last week -- presented a paper on Commonwealth cooperation to protect the environment, including the seas.

In her address, Sen. Swan stressed that any programmes for the protection of the environment must include programmes of education.

"There is a belief that interest in environmental matters is the concern of the leisurely and the rich,'' she said. "The need to be sensitive to environmental matters must be emphasised through education techniques that make the environment a live and present issue for all citizens.'' Participation of non governmental organisations must also be encouraged, Sen.

Swan pointed out. "These NGOs can assist in the promotion of environmental integrity,'' she said. "Some NGOs are affiliated with international bodies, and therefore, can form networks which can go beyond national boundaries.'' Sen. Swan also called on Commonwealth governments to recognise and ensure the adoption of "appropriate standards of environmental protection'' and to have regard for international obligations.

"It is our responsibility to work together so that we are all prepared to meet the environmental challenges as we prepare to move into a new millennium,'' she said. "This will call for the use of our knowledge of science and technology in imaginative ways.'' Because developing and small countries often have limited resources, Sen. Swan said developed countries should share their technical and scientific knowledge so a programme could be developed for all Commonwealth countries to protect the environment.

"The Commonwealth is recognised as having played a leadership role in the protection of the global environment,'' she stressed. "It is important that the work continues.'' During the week-long conference, the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians -- of which former Independent Sen. Norma Astwood is a founding member -- and the Society of Clerks-At-The-Table -- of which Clerk to the Legislature Muriel Roach is a member -- also held meetings for its members and topics of particular and natural interest were discussed.

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