Parliament Speaker Filimoni Jitoko has admitted to an error of judgment after initially overruling an objection raised by Opposition MP Jone Usamate only to later concede the interjection had been valid.
The issue arose during Tuesday’s sitting when Mr Usamate objected to a ministerial statement that was supposed to be delivered by acting Attorney-General and Justice Minister Siromi Turaga on an ongoing case before the High Court.
At that time, Mr Jitoko had dismissed the interjection as premature, saying the speaker on the floor had not yet concluded his statement.
“I now have the summary of the minister’s statement, which Honorable Usamate was referring to, and which was not available to me then, and it refers to a particular case that was before the Lautoka High Court,” he said.
“The matter is deemed to be still before the court and if the appeal processes have not been exhausted, I’m therefore satisfied, having now been fully conversant on the fact that Honorable Usamate had a valid objection.
“Although made prematurely on the minister’s intended statement and it breaches standing order 61.”
Mr Jitoko said he would allow any general reference to matters pertaining to a rule of law, “so long as it does not impinge upon a particular case pending before the court”.
