Speakers Of Both Chambers Of Parliament Leave For Wales
They will attend the inauguration of the Welsh National Assembly (Senedd)

By Somalilandtimes network

  

The speaker of the lower house of Parliament, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillahi “Erro” (left) and the first deputy speaker of the Somaliland Guurti (upper house), Sheikh Ahmed Nuh (right)

Hargeysa, Somaliland, February 25, 2006 – The speaker of the lower house of Parliament, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillahi “Erro” and the first deputy speaker of the Somaliland Guurti (upper house), Sheikh Ahmed Nuh will leave tomorrow for Cardiff, Wales, with a night stopover in Addis Ababa, to take part in the official opening of the new Welsh National Assembly – the Senedd – on March 1, 2006.

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the II will officially open the Assembly Senedd, accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh, the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall.

Speakers of the two houses of parliament were officially invited by the Welsh Assembly to attend the Senedd opening. Citing that he has only returned from a trip overseas that lasted almost 2 months, Suleiman Adan, the speaker of the house of elders, sent his first deputy Sheikh Ahmed Nuh to represent the Guurti.

The Welsh Assembly has also invited speakers and presidents of parliaments in all the countries of the Commonwealth of Nations which were once British colonies. Though Somaliland is not a member of the Commonwealth, however its ties with Wales dates from the 19 century.

Somalilanders first landed in Cardiff over a century ago to work as Seamen, Dockers and mine laborers. Somalilanders worked also at Liverpool, Bristol , London and a number of other British cities by the turn of the 20 th century.

The Somali Advice and Information Center in Cardiff has successfully lobbied the Welsh Assembly for extending an invitation to the Somaliland parliamentarians who during their stay in Britain will also meet with local, regional and central government officials as well as aid organizations.

The band of the Royal Regiment of Wales will be performing outside the Senedd from 11am and members of the public are welcome to come and see the Royal party arrive. There will also be a fly past of Hawk jets from the RAF and a 21-gun salute.

Guests from all over the world, including Speakers and Presidents from other Parliaments, have been invited to this important Parliamentary occasion. Children and older people from every county in Wales have also been invited to the ceremony. Hundreds of children from local schools will be outside the Senedd.

The BBC will be broadcasting its live coverage of the event on screens in Castle Square , Swansea , and the Maes in Caernarfon.

In the afternoon, the resident arts companies based in the Wales Millennium Centre will be performing in the Senedd and the Wales Millennium Centre. There will be performances from the Urdd, Diversions the Dance Company of Wales , T ŷ Cerdd-Music Centre Wales (National Youth Symphonic Brass Wales),

Hijinx Theatre and Academi, the Welsh National Literature Promotion Agency and Society of Writers. The programme will include music, dance, theatre and poetry.

 

Lord Thomas, AM, Speaker of National Welsh Assembly Lorraine Barrette, AM, South & Penarth Mr. Abdikarim Abdi Adan , Director, Somaliland Community

     

Lorraine Barrette, AM, South & Penarth ( on Left ) Mr. Ahmed Hassan, Cardiff Somaliland Community Chairman

Mr. Abdikarim Abdi Adan , Director, Somaliland Community Rt. Hon. Edna Adan Ismail, Somaliland Foreign Minister Sir John Shortage, Permanent Secretary ,National Assembly of Wales

    

Source: Somaliland Times