Former Parliament Secretary-General Mary Chapman made a striking remark yesterday, describing the current state of the Parliament as a “Banana Parliament.” Her comments were a response to recent statements made by Minister for Multi-Ethnic Affairs and Sugar Industry Charan Jeath Singh and Opposition MP Parveen Kumar.
Chapman noted that such hostile exchanges were not common in her time, stating that the Speaker would have intervened immediately to restore order. She expressed concern about the deterioration of parliamentary decorum, saying, “It’s not like a Parliament anymore. It’s just like a Banana Parliament. People are calling each other murderers and liars. All these are unbecoming.”
According to Chapman, parliamentary language has degraded to the extent where accusations have escalated from lies to murder, leaving many to wonder where this behavior is leading. She emphasized that Parliament is a serious venue that serves all of Fiji, highlighting that calling someone a liar in the past could lead to suspension.
The environment in Parliament has shifted significantly, with chaotic sessions becoming the norm over the last 13 years, culminating in the 2022 General Elections. Instances of booing and shouting down fellow MPs have been broadcasted live, which may mislead viewers about acceptable conduct.
Chapman calls for a return to order and respect within parliamentary proceedings. She poses a critical question about the awareness of decorum in discussions and urges for a reconsideration of the use of unparliamentary language.
The trend of disrespectful political conduct poses a challenge to maintaining the integrity of Parliament. Chapman asserts the necessity for respectful dialogue in governance, emphasizing Parliament as a serious forum for public service rather than a platform for personal attacks.
As she concluded, “Somebody has to put their foot down unless you want this to be a real Banana Parliament.”