Opposition Leader calls on President to call parliament

Opposition Leader Ro Teimumu Kepa is calling on President, Jioji Konrote to call parliament to discuss a number of issues after Tropical Cyclone Winston.

Ro Teimumu said the President is obliged to summon Parliament after he received a petition from members for Parliament to be recalled in accordance with the constitution.

She said section 67 (4) of the constitution says that if  Parliament is not in session and the President receives a request in writing from not less than one third of the members of Parliament requesting that Parliament be summoned to meet to consider without delay a matter of public importance, the President shall summon Parliament to meet.

This section in the constitution deals with the time when parliament is not in session.

However Fijivillage can confirm that parliament is currently in session.

The new parliament session started on the 14th of September last year and the current session will end on the 5th of September 2016.

The session period runs through for a year.

Ro Teimumu believes the 17 Opposition members have complied with the provisions and have signed a request to the President which was delivered on March 3rd.

She said the Speaker Doctor Jiko Luveni has no discretion and she is obliged to act within one week from the date of the request.

The Opposition Leader said if the President declines to respond, the Opposition must then consider options open to it.

Ro Teimumu said the government must now report to the people through their Parliament on the extent of damage after Cyclone Winston, how much it’s likely to cost, how much can we expect from aid and how much will we need to raise from our own resources to pay for the rebuilding of the nation.

The President’s Office is yet to comment on the call made by Ro Teimumu.

President Konrote has been on the ground visiting the cyclone affected areas.

Speaking to Fijivillage, Doctor Jiko Luveni said how can she call parliament knowing that many people need immediate attention and comfort.

Doctor Luveni said there are more important issues to address rather than going and sitting in parliament.

She said this is also the reason why the President is not responding to the issue at this time.

Doctor Luveni said government members are on the ground to ensure that people get immediate assistance, and people should understand the current situation.