A protest by Opposition Members was avoided after Deputy Speaker Lenora Qereqeretabua permitted Supplementary Questions during the Oral Questions Time. Initially, there was a proposal to disallow supplementary questions to accommodate a Government event scheduled for later in the evening.
Jone Usamate, speaking to the media, emphasized that Parliament serves as the People’s House, and it is the duty of Parliamentarians to present and address issues affecting the public. He mentioned that the Opposition was prepared to stage a protest but decided against it following the Deputy Speaker’s decision.
Usamate criticized the Government for wanting to shorten the parliamentary session in order to attend an evening function. He asserted that Parliament should not be subordinate to any other event, as it is the platform for the people’s voices to be heard. He stated that such priorities should always come first and that external visitors or activities should not limit the opportunities for Parliamentarians to raise important issues.