On Monday 17th March 2025 following Hansard Day on March 15th, the National Assembly hosted a Hansard Day presentation with the goal of honouring the hard-working Hansard reporters while also providing a greater understanding of the work that they do. In attendance was the Speaker of the National Assembly Hon. Roger Mancienne, Deputy Speaker Hon. Gervais Henrie, the Clerk of the National Assembly Mrs. Tania Isaac, the Deputy Clerk of the National Assembly Ms. Alexandria Faure and several staff members were present. Additionally, Ms. Benette Barbe was the guest speaker for this event.
This day will be celebrated every year to raise internal and external awareness on the work of Hansard locally and internationally whilst also providing a platform for engaging and educating others on the important work of Hansard and parliamentary records, fostering closer connections with stakeholders.
The presentation began with warm remarks from both the Clerk and Deputy Clerk, who highlighted the importance of a Hansard's role in preserving the National Assembly's history and its records. Furthermore, it provides a means for the National Assembly to maintain public transparency. Ms. Faure further emphasised the significance of this day in observing the evolution of the Hansard division.
Mrs. Florette Monnaie, the Director for Hansard and Records, took the time to thank all staff for their ongoing support and the Hansard for their sustained hard work.
Ms. Barbe, a former Parliamentary Reporter, who worked for the National Assembly in 1995 up until 2007 then gave a presentation. She discussed a variety of topics, including the evolution of the role from Parliamentary Reporter to Hansard Reporter, the difficulties of writing back then, particularly with no internet and all research done manually, and the adoption and standardisation of the creole language in written verbatims of the National Assembly. She also took the time to share the challenges she faced as one of the few women who played a pivotal role in shaping the work of the National Assembly, particularly in laying the foundation for the functions carried out by the Hansard team today.
Ms. Barbe was particularly pleased to discover that the National Assembly Secretariat had grown from the original handful they had at the beginning. She encouraged the Hansard team and the rest of the staff to continue working hard, growing, and moving the National Assembly into the future.
All Hansard personnel, including Ms. Barbe, received a token of appreciation for their efforts by the Honorable Speaker.
