Speaker of Parliament Ratu Epeli Nailatikau has ruled that the Opposition should undertake further research when dealing with laws to ensure they provide the correct law when used as reference in a question.
Ratu Epeli stressed this morning that questions prepared should be accurate before it is considered by the Business Committee to be included in the order paper.
He made this ruling after Leader of Opposition, Sitiveni Rabuka had stood on a point of order saying that Attorney General, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum had misled Parliament.
Ratu Epeli says Rabuka had asked a question referring to the procurement regulation 2012 and mentioned the figures were substituted, corrected or amended.
The Speaker says Rabuka believed that Sayed-Khaiyum should have answered his question.
Ratu Epeli says Sayed-Khaiyum had clarified that the law Rabuka was referring to does not have the amendments as he was quoting.
Ratu Epeli says Sayed-Khaiyum had also clarified that he will ask the Leader of Opposition to further correct the question as the regulation deals with purchases made under $50,000.
The Speaker of Parliament says the onus is now on members of Parliament to prepare questions accurately and he should not be referring questions as such to a later sitting.
He says the question by Rabuka can be resumed in the May sitting of Parliament. Rabuka has accepted the Speaker’s ruling.
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