In the National Assembly |26 October 2022

Opposition members’ absence for October 20 session unjustifiable, Speaker rules

• Instructs that R1000 be deducted from their salary

The absence of opposition members in the National Assembly for the October 20 session during which President Wavel Ramkalawan addressed the nation was unjustifiable and not in line with the institution’s regulations, Speaker Roger Mancienne has ruled.

As such, the Speaker has called for the deduction of R1000 from their salary.

Giving his ruling on the matter at the start of yesterday’s sitting, Speaker Mancienne said their behaviour was a lack of respect for the president, the Constitution and the Assembly itself.

Speaker Roger Mancienne clarified that the President’s privilege to address the National Assembly is clearly stated in Article 92(1) of the Constitution as follows:

“The President may at any time attend and address the National Assembly.”

He said the October 20 sitting featured clearly on the Assembly’s order of business and all members were notified.

“The presence of all members was compulsory and therefore the absence of opposition members were not in line with regulations and the National Assembly’s Member’s Emolument’s Act provides for a clear sanction for members’ absence without the Speaker’s approval in accordance with Article 4 A 1 of the law,” he explained.

“I am therefore giving instructions for R1000 to be deducted from the salary of each member who was absent without the Speaker’s permission on that day,” he said.

Speaker Mancienne went on to remind Assembly members that the regulation dates back to 1993 and does not necessarily reflects what it should be today.

Speaker Mancienne has meanwhile called on all members to honour their obligations and to respect the Constitution, the President and the Assembly itself.

Marie-Anne Lepathy