Parliament

Speaker of Parliament appointment to be made soon

January 22, 2019 4:39 pm

Deputy Speaker, Veena Bhatnagar is in the interim undertaking speaker duties where needed.

The first sitting of Parliament this year is two weeks away and the appointment of a new Speaker of the House is top of the priority list.

Acting Secretary General to Parliament, Viniana Namosimalua says at this stage they are expecting clarification from the government on whether a special sitting will be convened to appoint a new speaker.

“We’re awaiting instructions from the government whether we will do that, we will nominate, whether we’ll have the nominations for the first sitting in February or there will be a separate sitting, just to appoint a speaker, we are awaiting instructions.”

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The A-SG also clarifying the criteria that would be required when either side of the house selects a nominee to preside over the House of Representatives.

“Well the constitution says the person must be qualified for election as a member of parliament. So there’s certain criteria’s that must be followed and adhered to, to enable a person to qualify as Speaker. And I suppose someone that people would look up to uphold the justice, fairness and impartiality.”

Parliament is scheduled to sit for a week’s session from the 11th to the 15th of next month.

Meanwhile, Deputy Speaker, Veena Bhatnagar is in the interim undertaking speaker duties where needed.

It has been a month since the late Speaker of Parliament, Dr. Jiko Luveni passed away.