There was a time in Bermuda's parliamentary affairs not so long ago when women were hardly seen – and hardly heard if seen.

The degree to which that has changed was obvious from a glance at the agenda of the annual general meeting of the Bermuda Branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) held this week in the House of Assembly.

Presided over by Senate President Carol Bassett, she had at her left hand, the Clerk to the Legislature, Mrs. Shernette Wolffe (see photo) And standing by were Dame Jennifer Smith, reporting on her role as outgoing executive of the 34th CPA Regional Conference in Georgetown, Guyana and Hon. Mrs. Neletha Butterfield on her impact at the 2nd CPA Women's Parliamentarian Conference in Nevus, St. Kitts.

Also Sen. Bassett reported on the delegation she led at the 55th CPA Conference in Arusha, Tanzania. Supplementary reports were given by Ms Lovitta Foggo, MP, Mrs. Wolffe and Opposition Leader Kim Swan, who were also delegates.(see photo).

Mrs. Butterfield highlighted how the overall theme of her conference dealt with the harnessing of skills and developing the capabilities of women parliamentarians, particularly in the Caribbean, Atlantic and Americas Region. Ms Foggo was also on that delegation along with its secretary, Mrs. Eudora Ford.

Sen. Bassett was chairwoman for the opening ceremony and first plenary session of the CPA Conference in Arusha, where topics dealt with included Policy Responses to the Global Financial Crisis in Small Economies.

The local CPA's AGM began with a silent tribute acknowledging the passing of five members, ex-Senate President Albert Jackson and former MPs Harry Viera, the Rev. Wilbur Lowe, Julian Hall and Hon. Nelson Bascome.