Madam Speaker would not be intimidated

BAME PIET
Staff Writer | Friday June 17, 2011 00:00

In a brief interview yesterday, Nasha dismissed reports that some members of cabinet tried to arm twist her into not calling for a general assembly for Members of Parliament on Friday, June 3. Reports are that the Office of President was not happy with the meeting and sent ministers to try and convince Nasha not to convene the meeting, set up to resolve the public sector strike that was suspended on Monday.

'If there were any people who were not happy with the meeting, they did not communicate that with me. Ha ele gore bane ba omana, nna ga ke itse,' she said. She stated that she was exercising her constitutional right as the speaker to convene that meeting and would do so in future if need arises.

The constitution empowers her to call a General Assembly for members to discuss crisis whilst it bars her from calling an emergency parliamentary meeting. The constitution only gives powers to the president to call an emergency meeting when the House is in recess.

Meanwhile, Nasha acknowledges receiving phone calls from some cabinet ministers, prior to the General Assembly, but stated that the conversations were cordial and not in any way an attempt to stifle the independence of Parliament. She also refuted reports that some MPs walked out of the meeting, saying they informed her about their whereabouts. She stated that Parliament will resume on July 4th as scheduled.