AG says Tabuya and Prasad are grandstanding when they claim that govt does not want to talk about issues relating to COVID-19

Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum says that NFP Leader Professor Biman Prasad and SODELPA Whip Lynda Tabuya are grandstanding when they claim that the government does not want to talk about issues relating to COVID-19.

He made these comments as parliament was debating the Review on the Audit Report of Municipal Councils for 2013, and Tabuya and Professor Prasad started talking about COVID-19.

Sayed-Khaiyum says Professor Prasad and Tabuya were in the Business Committee meeting yesterday when the agenda of the order paper was set.

He adds they also discussed yesterday that when they have the sitting next week, there will be an opportunity for the opposition by the Business Committee meeting that will be held this Thursday for them to ask questions on COVID-19 or any matter relating to COVID-19 and that is what they agreed to.

Sayed-Khaiyum says they know there is a COVID-19 situation in the country with various statements made by government and various other statements will be made by government.

He says there are other facets of running a government.

While speaking on the motion, Tabuya says the people are asking why is the parliament discussing issues that are not relevant to the crisis at hand.

She says the opposition raised in the business committee the need to address the issues that are current however it was stated in the Business Committee that the business from April be brought forward.

Professor Prasad says no minister has given a ministerial statement about a whole of government approach in responding to COVID-19.

He says people called him to ask what will be discussed in parliament today.