Speaker's Interview with Nauru Media

Nauru media interviewed the Speaker of Parliament the Hon. Ludwig Scotty regarding the Supreme Court injunction on the Speaker’s dissolution writ on Friday 15, March 2013. According to the Speaker, he said, he had failed members of his constituency because of his failure to dissolve parliament.

The Speaker said what have happened is the first time in Nauru that the President and the Speaker have agreed to dissolve parliament. He said playing politics is similar to playing chess, where you have to analyse your opponents move in-order to know what you have to do next and he stressed that that is unacceptable.

He said if I’m to abide with the Supreme Court decision to protect our democracy and I have to resign from the speakership, the question is, what will happen if the deputy speaker assumes the seat and further entertain the current political crisis or suspend parliament to prolong the continuity of the current political shambles?

The Speaker said, the opposition party has told Nauru media and other members of the communities that they will consider the dissolution, so why didn’t they just follow the current dissolution if they are genuine?

If I am to resign, then what will happen? Will the Supreme Court make a writ to dissolve parliament? In fact the Speaker said, he never made any promises to abide with the Supreme Court verdict, but he said he will allow the Supreme Court to carry on with its role to interpret the Constitution.

According to the Speaker of Parliament Hon. Ludwig Scotty, he said but what happens in parliament is outside of the Chief Justice jurisdiction and scope of works, as parliament is another arm under the three separations of power in the country.   

The Speaker said enough is enough and I will not tolerate any more heckling in parliament. The president and I have agreed to dissolve parliament. What mandate did the opposition have here? I reckon they don’t have any mandate, unless they said they have supporters in the government, and then those must throw in their towels and resign from their ministerial post and show their true colours.

Nauru is a sovereign country and it should consider resolving its own problem domestically and don’t need for any members of parliament to go and tell the overseas media about our commotions etc. except just members of parliament acting childish.