A potential protest by opposition members was avoided after Deputy Speaker Lenora Qereqeretabua permitted supplementary questions during the Oral Questions segment in Parliament. Initially, a decision was made to restrict supplementary questions to accommodate a government event scheduled for later in the evening.
Jone Usamate addressed the media, asserting that Parliament represents the interests of the people and that it is the responsibility of lawmakers to bring forward issues impacting the public. He noted that the opposition was prepared to demonstrate but decided against it following the Deputy Speaker’s ruling.
Usamate criticized the government’s attempt to shorten the parliamentary session to accommodate their event, emphasizing that lawmakers should prioritize their duties over other commitments. He stressed that Parliament is the platform for the voices of the citizens and that any outside events should not interfere with the ability of parliamentarians to address important issues.