Parliament

Radrodro’s Petition out of order: Speaker

May 14, 2019 12:47 pm

Opposition MP Aseri Radrodro [left] and Speaker of Parliament Ratu Epeli Nailatikau

Speaker of Parliament Ratu Epeli Nailatikau has ruled against the Petition put forward by Opposition MP Aseri Radrodro.

Radrodro had put forward a petition seeking parliament to allow the Minister for Lands to grant state land to the Yavusa Tovatova in Vatukoula for their resettlement.

Ratu Epeli says the petition is out of order and will not be tabled in Parliament.

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Ratu Epeli says the petition is clearly an attempt to take action on what is not within the powers of the parliament and such petitions cannot be allowed under Standing Order 37, 2(b)

“The use of a petition for such purpose is wholly improper and it ignores the fact that by written law parliament has given the authority to the executive, whether a Minister or a public officer to make the decision.”

The Speaker clarified that under the state lands act 1945 – the procedures to grant out state land to any person or entity is to be made by the Ministry responsible.