The Leader of National Federation Party Professor Biman Prasad is calling on the Speaker of Parliament to resume parliament sessions either in the same manner as this week or entirely virtual once the building is decontaminated, so that the urgent help and relief for the welfare, survival and livelihood of people are discussed.
The Parliament sittings scheduled for today and Monday 31st May to Friday 4th June 2021 have been cancelled after a secretariat staff was identified as a primary contact of a COVID-19 positive case.
In a statement, Speaker of Parliament Ratu Epeli Nailatikau says as a precautionary measure and upon the directive of the Ministry of Health and Medical Services, the Parliamentary precincts and offices will be closed with immediate effect until further notice.
He says all Parliamentary business will resume upon advice and clearance from the Ministry of Health and Medical Services.
Professor Biman Prasad says they know that the MPs who attended parliament have been told to isolate for only 4 days and not 14 days as initially advised so parliament can still go ahead from Monday.
Prasad says the Ministry directed for the closure of the offices and chambers but did not direct that the Speaker cancel Parliament.
He says they know that the Prime Minister wanted parliament to sit virtually because it would not be interrupted by any lockdown and here there is no lockdown.
He says a staff has been identified as a primary contact of a COVID-19 positive case and while they understand the need to close parliament and put staff into self-isolation, they certainly do not agree with the cancellation.
Prasad says the hopes of cane growers have been buried because they wanted to hear what the Prime Minister had to say to his end of week statement calling for a 4th cane payment of $20 per tonne.
He says if parliament was held virtually, this issue would have been deliberated or it could have been dealt with on Monday if parliament was to resume after decontamination.
Prasad says Monday and Tuesday have been set aside to discuss the Opposition’s questions and Motions on COVID-19 and what help can be provided to at least 50 percent of the population including small and medium enterprises who are hit the hardest by the pandemic.
Prasad says they did not get an opportunity to do so meaningfully this week with parliament clearing off old agenda and government business only.
He says this included the passing of two guarantees for loans to be obtained by Fiji Airways and Fiji Development Bank totaling $625 million.
Prasad says also questions how Parliament could sit virtually to pass government guarantees for Fiji Airways and Fiji Development Bank but could not sit virtually to deal with the people’s current critical problems.
He says parliament is not the play thing of the government as it is the people’s parliament and it is there to hear the problems of the people and to create national discussion and debate on how to solve them.
We have sent questions to the Parliament Secretariat regarding this issue and are awaiting their response.
Stay tuned for the latest news on our radio stations
