POPVOX Foundation Presents Inaugural Digital Parliaments Project Innovator Award to Caribbean Parliamentary Leaders
On October 9, 2025, POPVOX Foundation presented the inaugural Digital Parliaments Project (DPP) Innovator Award during the 68th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference CPA-CAA regional meeting hosted by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association in Bridgetown, Barbados. The award honors the Presidents and Speakers, as well as their staff, whose collaborative vision brought the Digital Parliaments Project to life and who are transforming how Caribbean legislatures embrace digital innovation.
Background on the Digital Parliaments Project
The DPP began with a 2024 convening organized by the House Democracy Partnership and ParlAmericas in Miami, FL that brought together representatives from Caribbean parliaments and members of civil society including POPVOX Foundation Executive Director Marci Harris. During a breakout session focused on emerging technologies, parliamentarians didn't just identify challenges, they envisioned solutions. They recommended creating a regional initiative to foster best practices and build a cohort where all parliaments could benefit from shared resources and learning.
That vision became the Digital Parliaments Project.
Over the past year, we've worked hand-in-hand with six Caribbean countries: Belize, Saint Lucia, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, and the Bahamas — to identify common technology challenges facing democratic institutions and begin building solutions.
At the CPA-CAA Regional Session that took place on October 9, POPVOX Foundation Director of Global Initiatives Aubrey Wilson presented the 2025 Digital Parliaments Project Innovator Award to recognize those who have been at the heart of making this vision a reality.
Digital Parliaments Project Innovator Award Recipients, clockwise: Honorable President Reginald Farley, Ms. Colleen Lowe, Honorable Speaker Holness, Honorable President Trench-Sandiford, Ms. Esmalene Cox, Ms. Aubrey Wilson (award presenter), Honorable Speaker Joseph Isaac
The Honorable President Reginald Farley of the Senate of Barbados
The Honorable President Carolyn Trench-Sandiford of the Senate of Belize
Mrs. Clarita Pech, Clerk of National Assembly of Belize (received on her behalf by the Honorable President)
The Honorable Speaker Joseph Isaac of the House of Assembly of Dominica
The Honorable Speaker Leo Cato of the House of Representatives of Grenada (received on his behalf by the Honorable President of the Senate Dr. Dessima Williams)
The Honorable Speaker Claudius Francis of the House of Assembly of Saint Lucia
Ms. Esmalene Cox-Jn Louis, Clerk of Parliament of Saint Lucia
The Honorable Speaker Juliet Holness of the House of Representatives of Jamaica
Ms. Colleen Lowe, Clerk to the Houses of Parliament of Jamaica
The 2025 DPP Innovator Award recognizes not just individual achievement, but collective vision. It honors those who saw what was possible and continue to show dedication and drive in being leaders to foster that innovation.
Congratulations to all our award recipients! This is just the beginning.
An Additional Note of Thanks
The Digital Parliaments Project exemplifies what's possible when organizations and legislative institutions work together toward a shared goal. Our collaboration with ParlAmericas has been instrumental from the very beginning — from being one of the hosts of the Miami convening that sparked this initiative to their continued support at the CPA-CAA convening. The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association has been equally vital in bringing parliamentary leaders together and facilitating regional knowledge-sharing during the 68th CPA Conference.
Looking Ahead
This week’s award presentation coincides with the global unveiling of the Digital Parliaments Project at the Open Government Partnership Summit in Spain, and we're planning additional phases of the DPP and would be honored by participation from other parliaments. Information about joining future phases, including a template MOU, can be found on the Digital Parliaments Project page of our website.
