BVI House of Assembly learns AI applications at Caribbean parliamentary workshop

Two officials from the House of Assembly travelled to Miami in mid-September to participate in a regional gathering focused on deploying artificial intelligence and digital tools within Caribbean parliaments.

Theresa Penn, who serves as Executive Officer, and Damian McGowan, the Hansard Editor, attended the workshop held on 12 to 13 September at Florida International University. The event drew roughly 30 parliamentary staff from across the Caribbean, including clerks, Hansard specialists, IT professionals and communications staff.

The House Democracy Partnership of the United States House of Representatives sponsored the workshop in partnership with ParlAmericas and the POPVOX Foundation. The gathering formed part of the broader Digital Parliaments Project, which assists legislatures in upgrading their systems, preserving records in digital form and embracing new technologies in a responsible manner.

Workshop content centred on how AI and digital systems could enhance legislative research, manage records, streamline administrative work and expand public access to parliamentary materials. Participants also reviewed digitisation standards, institutional policies on AI use, cybersecurity approaches, data safeguards and the critical role of human review when working with AI-generated content.

Ms Penn characterised the experience as "a valuable and informative experience" that demonstrated practical ways technology could strengthen records management, research capabilities and citizen access to parliamentary information. She underscored that "artificial intelligence should support parliamentary work, not replace the human judgment, accountability and institutional processes that underpin parliamentary democracy."

Mr McGowan called the workshop "an important forum" for exploring how AI and digitisation might be woven into parliamentary routines. He pointed to several applications worth pursuing: AI systems to help transcribe Hansard records (with human verification), conversion of Bills and parliamentary documents to digital formats, and enhanced tools for legislative research.

The House of Assembly stated that successful modernisation demands more than purchasing new technology. The institution must also establish strong governance structures, maintain trained staff, invest in cybersecurity and put in place protections for sensitive parliamentary materials.