SHAMBLE IN NAURU PARLIAMENT YESTERDAY

I just want to inform readers that the following information to be stated under this blog are based on hearsay and does not have any supporting substances, but more or less an informal justifications of Nauru’s political parties.

OUTCOME OF YESTERDAY’S SITTING

After parliament’s first break yesterday for 15 minutes for not having a quorum to proceed on with the President’s dissolution notice, the Speaker of Parliament the Hon. Ludwig Scotty advises the house that they are short of one member.

However for readers information, one of those ten members not turning up for the sitting was the Minister for Finance the Hon. Dominic Tabuna.

Thus, the Speaker of Parliament the Hon. Ludwig Scotty advises His Excellency President Sprent Dabwido to locate his Minister as they are going to have a short break and will comeback after 15 minutes.

When the bell rang and the meeting reconvene the Speaker informed the house that there is still no quorum and thus parliament will be adjourned till the 18^th of April 2013.

GOVERNMENT SIDE OF THE STORY

Earlier this week on Monday 15^th of April 2013, the office of the Secretary for Cabinet Mr. Sasi Kumar issued a circular to notify all the members of parliament that there will be a meeting on Tuesday 16^th of April 2013 at 2:00pm.

Thus the turn-out of members for the meeting was very disappointing. There are only eight members out of 19 attended the meeting. However, according to the government source, during the sitting break when the Speaker advises the President to track his Minister Mr Tabuna, the President rang the Minister for several times and received no answer.

Therefore, the sitting resume and the Speaker adjourned the house due to shortage of members attending to state a quorum.

OPPOSITION SIDE OF THE STORY

According with the source from the Opposition party, the President assured the members of parliament that there will be no meeting to be convened this week and have released one of his Ministers, the Hon. Riddell Akua, Minister for Transport and CIE to travel at the sitting date.

Thus, some members of the Opposition party claimed that the letters have reached them, but very late. They claimed that what had happened yesterday was a deliberate act of sabotage by the President to try and destroy their repetitions and the political career.

They said, even the Minister who have left the island along with the three members of parliament the Hon. Marcus Stephen, Hon. Keiren Keke and Hon. Roland were very disappointed with the President’s action and thus will be returning to the Island on today’s flight from Fiji to attend the next sitting of parliament tomorrow as scheduled by the Speaker.

The opposition source said, the members overseas feel like they’ve been denied and deprived from their basic rights as members of parliament to represent their constituencies. Thus, they are coming back today to avail themselves in tomorrow’s parliament.

CONCLUSION

Parliament sitting for tomorrow is expected to be the closing of the twentieth parliament of Nauru where the Speaker of Parliament the Hon. Ludwig Scotty will be reading the President’s dissolution notice to parliament, and members of parliament to support the motion to formally dissolve the house and head straight into a general election.