Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka says he wished the Privileges Committee had put a provision that if Leader of Opposition Voreqe Bainimarama elects to apologise then there would be a reduction in the severity of the award.
He has highlighted this while speaking on the motion following the Privileges Committee’s recommendation after Bainimarama’s breach of privilege.
Rabuka says Bainimarama will not get any benefit if he apologises to the President so he could rightly say that whether he apologises or not he could still be suspended for three years.
He says they have heard that Bainimarama has openly stated that he does not value matanigasau or apologies so if was forced to do a matanigasau, he could satisfy the order but there is no benefit for him.
The Prime Minister says they must maintain the dignity and decorum of Parliament and the language they use must be in keeping with the status they project to the people who voted them as leaders.
He further says the President is the Turaga Bale Na Tui Macuata and the Speaker is the Turaga Bale Na Tui Cakau.
Rabuka says they have heard the efforts of the Coalition Government to bring back the Great Council of Chiefs and it was the GCC that accepted their actions in 1987 and forgave them.
He says their forgiveness resulted in the provisions of immunity in the 1990 and then the 1997 Constitution.
He says it came from the hearts and the soul of the GCC.
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