MEMBERS of Parliament must focus on policies and ideas when debates get heated in Parliament.
This is the advice from Kevin Deveaux, a consultant for UNDP and a former MP of Canada.
Mr Deveaux, who served four terms in Parliament for the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, was one of three invited experts who provided a mock debate for Members of Parliament at the induction of newly-appointed MPs at the Holiday Inn in Suva yesterday.
He said in his experience, parliamentary debates would get heated, and ideas and debates on policies would quickly turn into debates that involved personalities.
“Generally, it’s a matter of MPs focusing on policies and ideas and not on personalities,” Mr Deveaux said.
“It’s not always easy to do. I know from being in Parliament that things can get very heated.”
He said while the Speaker of the House had the responsibility of ensuring order in Parliament, party leaders and individuals themselves needed to focus on the bigger picture for Fiji.
“Everyone needs to understand that the people of Fiji are watching and this is an opportunity to show them, whether they are watching it live on television or hearing it over the radio, that they are leaders.
“There’s going to be plenty of opportunities for debate, plenty of opportunity for you to get your ideas on the agenda; there are going to be good days and bad days in Parliament but remember that everyone is there for the good of the country.
“At the end of the day, they are all Fijians who want to build a better country. You may disagree on some of those details but understand that level of respect is not only for you as an individual, for your party but you as leaders for our country.”
