The Speaker of Parliament, Filimone Jitoko, last night formally announced that Parliament will be prorogued on Monday, 8 December, bringing the current parliamentary session to an official close.
“For your information, Parliament will be prorogued on Monday, eighth of December,” the Speaker told Members of Parliament.
He explained that following prorogation, he will notify the President of the conclusion of the session and of the forthcoming State Opening of Parliament.
The Speaker reminded Members that the President will then deliver the official address to outline the Government’s agenda for the new session.
Once Parliament is prorogued, all current business will temporarily come to a halt.
“All parliamentary business, including sittings and committee proceedings on bills, motions, and reports, will be suspended until the commencement of the new session,” he said.
The only exception, he noted, would be matters that are “urgent and necessary to which we have the programme of the Speaker.”
He acknowledged that disagreements were inevitable in parliamentary life.
“I may not have seen eye to eye with some Honourable Members on both sides of the House on some matters or issues in the course of the year,” he admitted.
“But as the saying goes, it is in the nature of the beast. This office, I suggest, would not exist if there were always agreement and unanimity amongst the leaders on any issue that confronts the nation.”
