Opposition votes split

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Opposition MP’s Anare Jale and Adi Litia Qionibaravi at the Parliament complex. Picture: JOVESA NAISUA

THERE was a split in votes in the Opposition on a motion to amend the 2019 Parliament calendar.

Parliament voted on a motion on Friday to reduce the Parliament sitting weeks to seven sitting weeks to give time to the Parliamentary Standing Committees to scrutinise reports.

The motion was passed by 44 votes — 26 votes from Government and 18 from the Social Democratic Liberal Party members in the Opposition.

Five MPs had not voted – these included Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama and National Federation Party leader Professor Biman Prasad who were not present during the voting process.

Opposition Leader Sitiveni Rabuka and Opposition MPs Ratu Tevita Navurelevu and Mitieli Bulanauca had also not voted. Two MPs voted against the motion — they were NFP Opposition members Pio Tikoduadua and Lenora Qereqeretabua. Mr Rabuka claimed he wasn’t able to cast his vote because he entered Parliament late.

“So I was one of the five that didn’t cast their votes, but if I did I will vote in favour of the motion. We had already decided in the Business Committee to vote in favour of the motion even though we put in our objection and it was outvoted,” he said.

Mr Rabuka said it was also part of the process for SODELPA MPs to deliver robust debate on the motion in Parliament before they voted in favour of the motion.

“There is no rift between us and NFP; we decided to vote in favour of the motion, while they decided not to. The MPs can speak against the motion, but they should vote in favour of it because it’s all part of the process.

“As a matter of principle we voted for the change, it’s going to be workable for us as we are members of the committees, it will give us more time to go back to our constituencies and then bring their issues to Government,” he said.

Prof Prasad said they didn’t see any reason fitting enough to change the Parliament calendar sittings and it was unfair for the taxpayers of this country.

“I can’t speak for SODELPA because they, as a party, have their own policies and issues, it should be understood that these are two political parties with their own policies and agenda so sometimes we will not agree on certain things,” he said.

As a party, Prof Prasad said they stood by their party president who had informed the Business Committee that they would not vote in favour of the motion.

He said Fijian voters had the right to access adequate number of Parliament sittings to address their issues by those who represented them in Parliament.

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