‘Let’s work as a team’
THE Speaker of Parliament, Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu, says the members of Parliament need to understand the Standing Orders, as well as the secretariat.
He met the Secretary-General to Parliament Jeanette Emberson and senior staff members on Thursday.
In his welcoming address, Ratu Naiqama thanked the staff for their hard work and perseverance over the years, especially in the past few weeks leading up to the first sitting of Parliament last Saturday.
Ratu Naiqama says to effectively carry out his role as Speaker, he needs to be an active member of the team.
“I can only actively play my role here if I’m a part of it,” Ratu Naiqama said.
“The experience I’ve had in the short time I’ve been in Parliament is quite interesting.
“I want to be close to you as much as possible to hear straight from you.”
He said as the legislative arm of Government, they needed to keep their fingers on the pulse.
“I would like us to be upfront, especially with the approval of the review of our Standing Orders.
“I want the parliamentarians to know what the Standing Orders are, its impact and effect as well as the relative Standing Orders that we usually observe from the House of Commons.
“As secretariat, the Standing Orders need to be on our fingertips.
“So when things come up, we address it straight away.
“I’m relying on you, from the one who does the lowest job to the SecretaryGeneral,
each and every one of you is important to us in achieving our tasks, the Speaker said.
“Let us continue to work as a team as you’ve shown in the past. I’m only here to provide you with policies. The day-to-day operations rests with the Secretary-General.”
He also mentioned that he will be working closely with the Deputy Speaker in the running of Parliament.
Ratu Naiqama is no stranger to Parliament, having been the Leader of the Opposition from December 2020 to November 2022.
He was also a member of the Public Accounts Committee during the last term of Parliament.
He had also served previously in the Fijian Parliament from 1999 to 2000 and 2001 to 2006.