Opposition MPs Jone Usamate and Alvick Maharaj were suspended from the Fiji Parliament for 90 minutes after being issued yellow cards by Speaker Filimoni Jitoko for repeated interjections during a speech by National Federation Party leader and Government MP Professor Biman Prasad.
The Speaker intervened after what he described as continuous and deliberate disruptions, ultimately directing both MPs to withdraw from the chamber.
Under the Parliament’s Standing Order, a yellow card serves as a formal penalty for disorderly conduct.
Introduced as part of updated parliamentary procedures to strengthen decorum, the system allows the Speaker to issue a yellow card for persistent interjections or disruptive behaviour, requiring the MP to leave the chamber for up to 90 minutes.
A yellow-card ruling is not open to debate, and MPs must comply immediately with the Speaker’s order.
