President Jioji Konrote has affirmed his confidence in the Government that it will attend to the needs of all the Fijians who have been affected by Tropical Cyclone Winston.
The President made the comment in response to the calls by the Opposition Members of Parliament for him to summon Parliament.
The President says the provision in the Constitution that the Opposition is relying on for the President to summon Parliament is incorrect and that, given the urgency for Government to attend to the immediate needs of those who have been severely affected by the cyclone, he considers it inappropriate for him to agree to the Opposition’s request.
Members of the Opposition called for the President to summon Parliament under Section 67(4) which states that if Parliament is not in session, and the President receives a request in writing from not less than one‑third of the Members of Parliament requesting that Parliament be summoned to meet to consider without delay a matter of public importance, then the President shall summon Parliament to meet.
President Konrote says this provision can only be activated if Parliament is not in session. He emphasized that Section 163(1) of the Constitution defines a session of Parliament as a sitting of Parliament starting when it first meets after a prorogation or dissolution of Parliament and ending when Parliament is next prorogued or dissolved.
The President noted that Parliament is currently in session.
As earlier highlighted by Fijivillage, the current session began on 14th September, 2015 and is scheduled to end on 5th September, 2016.
President Konrote says given that Parliament is in session, Section 67(4) of the Constitution cannot be used to summon Parliament, as it will only apply if Parliament is not in session.
He says as the Head of State, he has every confidence that Government has the ability to cope with the destruction caused by Severe Tropical Cyclone Winston as evidenced by the actions taken prior to, during and the post‑cyclone and rehabilitation period. In‑line with the provisions of the Constitution, the President reiterates that he sees no reason why an emergency sitting of Parliament should be convened.
He says this is the feeling shared by the international community, including the United Nations and its agencies, as demonstrated by the visits of a Head of Government, senior Government Ministers, diplomats and, among others, heads of Defence Forces whose troops are involved in the rehabilitation process.
The President says that during his visits to some of the severely affected areas, the Fijian spirit of resilience and faith in the Government and in the Almighty were very evident because the majority of all Fijians are confident that they will be assisted as promised by the Prime Minister and Government.
