NO QUORUM IN PARLIAMENT

After the short progress of parliament last week to move the dissolution notice of the President His Excellency Sprent Dabwido, the Speaker of Parliament the Hon. Godfrey Thoma adjourned the house after two members left the chamber, leaving the house with a less number to convene a quorum.

Today the Speaker has to adjourn Parliament again, due to no quorum, as the number required to quorum parliament is one half of the total members of parliament to attend which is nine out of eighteen.

Those turning up for the meeting today include the Acting President Roland Kun, Hon Frederick Pitcher, Hon. Landon Deireragea, Hon. Dr Kieren Keke and Hon. Dominic Tabuna, total five. 

The President His Excellency Sprent Dabwido and one of his Cabinet Ministers the Hon. Riddell Akua are both off island on official government business. 

Thus the Speaker of Parliament the Hon. Godfrey Thoma begin parliament with a word of prayer and then announced that there was no quorum, so he adjourned the House til Thursday, 23 May 20131, at 2.00pm.

GROUNDBREAKING IN NAURU POLITICS

After a long political saga in Nauru Politics, some groundbreaking move finally took place yesterday where the Speaker of Parliament the Hon. Godfrey Thoma has been able to convene a quorum in parliament to officially announce the beginning of the seven days count down for the dissolution of the 20th Parliament.

Members attending parliament includes: the Acting President the Hon. Roland Kun, Hon. Ludwig Scotty, Hon. Mathew Batsiua, Hon. Landon Deireragea, Hon. David Adeang, Hon. Valdon Dowiyogo, Hon. Kieren Keke, Hon. Dominic Tabuna and Hon. Frederick Pitcher. The meeting was convened in the absence of His Excellency President Sprent Dabwido and the Honourable Minister for Transport Riddell Akua. Both Cabinet members are overseas on official Government business.

The Speaker first opened up the meeting with a word of prayer and then immediately proceeds on with the tabling of the President’s dissolution advice in accordance with Article 41, to allow members to pass a resolution under Article 24 to remove the president and his cabinet from office. The Speaker after referring the advice of the President to Parliament opens the floor for debate.

The member for Ubenide Hon. Frederick Pitcher then rise on a point of clarification asking the Speaker if whether the President’s advice is debatable, since there is no question put. The Speaker said yes, the President’s dissolution notice is open for debate.

The member for Yaren Hon. Keiren Keke, then rise on a point of order, advising the Speaker that he is in agreement with his colleague Mr. Pitcher, seeking guidance from the Chair to clarify if whether there is a question to be put forward by the Chair to allow members to debate the motion.

The Speaker then informed the house that if there is no debate, the house should proceed on with its normal business, while at the same time the seven days period for dissolution countdown has begun.

The member for Ubenide the Hon. Frederick Pitcher then sought leave to move a motion of no confidence in the president and his cabinet under Article 24.

The Speaker put the question, and leave is not granted.

The member then moved another motion to suspend relevant Standing Orders to allow the motion under Article 24 to proceed. A division was called on the question to suspend relevant standing orders and a ballot took place.  

The results were, five members voted in favour to suspending relevant standing orders and four against.

The Speaker then declared that the motion is carried, then the member for Ubenide the Hon. David Adeang then rise on a point of order and advised the Speaker to give example of any precedent that allows a nominal number in parliament to carry forward such motion.

The Speaker then accepted the advice of the member for Ubenide and then shortly, the House lost quorum, with the members of Ubenide the Hon. David Adeang and the Hon. Valdon Dowiyogo left the Chamber.

The Speaker Hon. Godfrey Thoma, before adjourning the house till Tuesday 21st of May 2013, confirmed that the House will be dissolved after seven days. 

Nauru Parliament Continues To Play Hide & Seek

Earlier on today at 11:00am parliament resumes and still no quorum, thus the Speaker of Parliament the Hon. Godfrey Thoma has adjourned the house till Thursday 16, May 2013 at 10:00am. 

The Speaker Hon. Godfrey Thoma urges members to attend parliament

The Speaker of Parliament the Hon. Godfrey Thoma announced on Nauru Bulletin and NTV News that after the last parliamentary sitting, there were not enough members attending the sitting to convene a quorum so the house has been adjourned till 3:00pm in the afternoon, which unfortunately, still no members turned up.

Thus the Speaker said that he has taken note that some members had informed him of their intended absence due to illness, while many others have not. Therefore, the Speaker said that the Constitution of Nauru is very clear under Article 32(1), (d) that:

“A member of parliament vacates his seat if he is absent without leave of parliament on every day on which a meeting of parliament is held during a period of two months.”

Therefore, the Speaker said, since his appointment as the Speaker of Parliament on Thursday 25, April 2013, following the resignation of former Speaker the Hon. Ludwig Scotty on 18 April. Article 32 of the Constitution deals with the various ways a Member of Parliament vacates their seat.

According to the Speaker he said that, all the members were present on the 25, April 2013 and hence the continuing absence of some still falls within this two month period. However, the two-month deadline will not be reached because the parliament will automatically dissolve on the 21, June 2013 the date which marks the end of its three-year term.

In conclusion the Speaker inform the public that he will continue to call parliament and hope that members end the current impasse by attending and ensuring a quorum to enable debate on the President’s advice to dissolve parliament to proceed as required by Article 41 of the Constitution. 

OPPOSITION SPOKESMAN MR. BATSIUA SPOKE TO NAURU MEDIA

The Hon. Matthew Batsiua was interviewed during the weekend by Nauru media on NTV News and Mr. Batsiua said; the most credible way to resolve the current parliamentary impasse is for His Excellency President Sprent Dabwido to refer the matter to the Supreme Court.

According to Mr. Batsiua he believed that what their party is doing is right and that is to reconvene parliament to debate the President’s dissolution notice issued to the Speaker of Parliament on Thursday 18, of April 2013, in compliance with the decision of the Supreme Court.

Mr. Batsiua said; it is an honorary thing to do if parliamentarians have any arisen questions under the constitution, to get the Supreme Court’s interpretation. In conclusion, Mr. Batsiua said; their party is willing to accept any Supreme Court decision to 

Naoero Public Health Centre Public Notice: Diarrhoea cases

The Naoero Public Health Centre has issued a public notice through Nauru Media, Nauru Television news and Government Information office that there is a concern over the increasing of diarrhoea cases being received at RON hospital. Therefore the Naoero Public Health Centre has advises the public that if a child has diarrhoea, they must immediately refer the child to the hospital. 

The Naoero Public Health has also issued a checklist for the communities to identify the symptoms of diarrhoea: 

1.   Sunken eyes

2.   Not drinking or eating well

3.   Skin pinch – skin goes back slowly

4.   Irritable and crying for no reason.

Along with that, the Naoero Public Health has raise awareness on how to prevent diarrhoea from becoming worse: 

1.   Wash your hands with soap before eating and after toilet

2.   Cover food with a food cover and keep it away from flies

3.   Boil all drinking water and store in clean holding containers

4.   Check and cleanse your water tank regularly.

RHD VISITING TEAM

The Ministry of Health has appointed a medical team with overseas experts to visit the schools to check-up the children’s hearts for signs of Rheumatic Fever and Rheumatic Heart Disease.The proposed school based screening process for Rheumatic Fever and Rheumatic Heart Disease is schedule to take place on the 10th of May 2013 till the 15th of May 2013.

Given the significant level of rheumatic heart disease and its complications in Nauru, the Ministry desires to prioritize the vaccination program on those at the age of 3, 6, and 9.The Ministry urged Parents and Guardians to bring their children to the schools during the screening at the times allocated for their schools.

NAURU PARLIAMENT CONTINUING DEADLOCK

Parliament meets again twice today at 10:00am and at 3:00pm and still not enough members attending the sittings to obtain quorum. Thus still Nauru continuation of parliamentary business notably the second dissolution advice made by President Sprent Dabwido on 15^th April 2013. 

Therefore the Speaker of Parliament the Hon. Godfrey Thoma uses the opportunity to advise the public that all statements made by his office would be made available to the public through the Clerk of Parliament. He also welcomes anyone with questions and enquiries regarding the current parliamentary situation to request an appointment with him in writing to the Clerk of Parliament.

The Speaker also read the letter he had written to President Dabwido on Friday 3, May 2013 which states:

“The current impasse can be very easily remedied, simply by you [the President] and your Cabinet colleagues attending the next sitting of Parliament,... thereby ensuring that there is a quorum and that debate can proceed”.

In the Speaker’s letter to His Excellency President Sprent Dabwido, he clearly outline that all members are keen to dissolved parliament and call for a general election. But unless there is a quorum in Parliament and members are given the opportunity to debate the dissolution advice.

The Speaker also gave a summary of the sittings since the president’s second letter to dissolve parliament on Monday 15, April 2013 and reminding the House of the lack of progress made by members to date.

Mr Thoma said that if the President or Cabinet took the matter to the Supreme Court, he would abide by any ruling or opinion from the Supreme Court. 

Speaker Thoma then adjourned the House until Thursday 9 May at 10.00am. 

THE SPEAKER'S ADDRESS TO PARLIAMENT

Earlier on today Parliament met twice at 10.00am and at 3.00pm but still no quorum.

Thus the Speaker of Parliament the Hon. Godfrey Thoma informed the house that while parliament is not progressing, His Excellency President Sprent Dabwido has made a statement on Nauru media that the matter of dissolution will be again referred to the Supreme Court as early as next week.

Therefore the Speaker Hon. Godfrey Thoma said, he wondered why the referral was not made this week.

Thus Speaker said; he will continue to abide by the ruling of the Supreme Court in the interpretation of the Constitution under Article 41 (1) that the House cannot dissolve until members are allowed to debate on the dissolution notice.

                                                                          

The Speaker further state that while members are very eager to go to the poll, first the dissolution process must be done appropriately and lawfully. But taking into count the current situation, it is not possible for the dissolution of parliament to kick in, given the failure of members to attend.

Therefore the Speaker, reminded members that parliament cannot deviate from the Supreme Court ruling and must follow it accordingly. 

H.E SPRENT DABWIDO INTERVIEW WITH NAURU MEDIA

His Excellency President Sprent Dabwido was interviewed by Nauru Media yesterday on the current political situation and the President said; the opportunity has been placed before the opposition on three separate occasions to move Article 24 and yet they failed. He said; these occasions include Thursday 18, April 2013, Tuesday 23, April 2013 and again on Thursday 25, April 2013, where parliament was convened with all members attending.     

Therefore the President said; before Mr. Scotty resigned from office as Speaker of Parliament on April 18, 2013, he had referred the dissolution advice to parliament as stated under Article 41 (4) of the Constitution of Nauru which states:

“Where the Speaker has, under clause (2.) of this Article, referred the advice of the President to Parliament, and no resolution for the removal from office of the President and Ministers under Article 24 is approved after the date on which the advice was so referred, he shall dissolve Parliament on the seventh day after that date.”

Thus, the President said; this process is done. The Speaker has referred the dissolution notice to parliament and within the seven days period, parliament is unable to adopt a resolution under article 24, to remove the government.

Therefore, from the date of which the dissolution notice is referred to parliament, till the parliamentary sitting on Thursday 2, May 2013, the whole day till midnight, which is the last day of the seven day period, parliament fails to adopt a resolution. Thus, now the whole political drama is over and whatsoever is happening in parliament this week will be unconstitutional. 

In conclusion the President said; the Speaker of Parliament is given till next week to issue the dissolution writ, or else will be challenged in the Supreme Court for the breaching of the Constitution.