From: Ross Carter

Sent: Friday, 24 August 2018 8:48 a.m.

To: Ross Carter

Subject: CALC: 2019 CALC Conference -- in Livingstone, Zambia -- 1 to 3 April 2019

Attachments: AVANI Lawns.jpg; Mukuni Boma - 1.jpg

2019 CALC Conference – in Livingstone, Zambia

Change and Continuity in Legislative Drafting

1 to 3 April 2019

1. CALC will hold its next bi-annual conference in Livingstone, Zambia. The final arrangements for the conference have just been settled with the conference venue. This has taken much longer than we would have liked but things have finally come together and we are looking forward to an outstanding conference at an exciting venue.

2. The conference will focus on the perennial issues that face legislative counsel and how these are affected by new challenges, such as the impact of disruptive technologies on the legal profession and legislative counsel, and a growing emphasis on the accessibility of legislation.

3. The conference will cover 3 full days, beginning on the morning of Monday 1^st April 2019 and concluding with a dinner on Wednesday 3^rd April.

4. The conference is open to all CALC members and will also include a General Meeting of CALC and the election of the CALC Council. This will be held on the afternoon of Tuesday 2^nd April.

Conference programme

5. An outstanding array of speakers from across the Commonwealth have agreed to present papers at the conference. An initial draft programme for the conference will be available shortly.

Conference venue

6. The conference will be held at the Avani Hotel, Livingstone. The hotel has an unbeatable position beside Victoria Falls. Guests have unrestricted access to the falls and zebras, impala, vervet monkeys (and the occasional giraffe) wander through the grounds. The hotel is connected to, and a short walk away from, the Royal Livingstone Hotel, which has a magnificent deck overlooking the falls. Livingstone is an interesting and historic town and there is plenty to do and see.

Conference accommodation

7. The Avani Hotel is also the official accommodation for the conference. A special rate of $175 USD (single room) and $205 (double room) has been secured for conference delegates. This is a substantial reduction from the usual room rates. A booking link for hotel rooms at this rate will soon be available and will be posted on the CALC website. There are numerous other hotels nearby, though all of these will require a taxi journey to the Avani.

Conference fees

8. The conference fees are $450 USD (£348 GPP at the time of sending) and may be paid in USD or GBP (at the rate of exchange prevailing at the time of payment). This includes the conference, a drinks reception and the conference dinner. We have been able to maintain the conference fee at the 2017 rate.

9. Guests who are not delegates may attend the dinner or the receptions. There is an additional charge for guests who are not delegates to attend the various functions.

10. Details of how to register will be sent to members shortly.

Conference functions

11. There will be welcoming drinks and canapés on the Monday evening. This will be followed by an (optional) dinner under the stars on the Avani lawns (see attached photos). This is not included in the conference fee as delegates would normally book restaurants for the first evening on an ad hoc basis, but we thought it would be good to offer delegates the opportunity to dine together rather than disperse, if delegates wish.

Tuesday casual event

12. No official function has been planned for Tuesday evening but delegates may wish to sign up for a sunset cruise on the Zambezi on an old style river boat (food and drinks provided on board) which leaves from the dock of the Royal Livingstone Hotel. This will provide opportunities for more wildlife spotting.

Conference dinner

13. The conference dinner will be held Boma style at the Avani, with Zambian dancers escorting us to dinner and a band entertaining delegates until late.

Social activities

14. Many of our members have already asked about pre or post conference activities. These include –

· A steam train trip on the Royal Livingstone Express. A 1924 steam train which has been beautifully restored travels on a 15km route to the Victoria Falls in time to see the sun set behind the falls. Passengers disembark for a sundowner before dinner is served on the train.

· Village visits

· Market and museum tours

· Historical tour of Livingstone

· Microlight and helicopter flights across the falls

· Walks across the Victoria falls (and bungee jumping for those who are so inclined)

· Canoeing on the Zambezi (beware of the many crocodiles in the river)

· White water rafting and kayaking (ditto)

· Birdwatching

· Game drives to see the Big 5 – in the Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park (within which our hotel is situated) or Zimbabwe or Botswana. It is possible to do a day tour to Chobe National Park which includes a game drive, lunch at a river lodge and a boat trip on the Chobe river (approximately $165 to $180). Guaranteed sightings of elephants, giraffes and buffalo and you are likely to see lions and possibly leopards.

· Rhino walks – rhinos are always protected by armed rangers, who will take you to see the rhinos (cost approximately $65 to $80)

Commonwealth Lawyers Association (CLA) and the Commonwealth Association of Law Reform Agencies (CALRAS) conferences

15. I have liaised closely with the Commonwealth Lawyers Association and the Commonwealth Association of Law Reform Agencies to ensure that the three conferences will run consecutively (CALC 1^st to 3^rd April, CALRAS 4^th and 5^th April and the CLA 7^th to 12^th April). This should facilitate delegates attending the CALC conference, and who wish, as well, to attend the other conferences.

Visas

16. Delegates will need to ensure that they have the appropriate visas. I was delighted to discover that there is no visa fee for the holders of Irish passports. Visas usually cover Zimbabwe and Botswana as well as Zambia so it is easy to travel between these countries before or after the conference.

17. Any delegates who require a letter from CALC stating that they are attending the conference should, in the first instance, send a request to Ross.Carter@pco.govt.nz.

Health

18. Delegates are advised to take precautions against malaria. I found it very straightforward to get anti-malarial tablets and did not see a mosquito during the 9 days I spent in Livingstone in April.

Further information

19. We will post further information on our website (calc.ngo) as this becomes available.

I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible in Zambia!

With best wishes,

Brenda

Brenda King |First Legislative Counsel

Commonwealth Association of Legislative Counsel President

Office of the Legislative Counsel | Rm 227 | Second Floor, Parliament Buildings | Stormont Estate |

Belfast BT4 3XX

( (028) 9037 8176 | * Brenda.king@executiveoffice-ni.gov.uk