Parliament to be Dissolved
MEDIA RELEASE
For Immediate Release
1 March, 2013
Nauru Parliament to be
dissolved
The Speaker of the Nauru Parliament, Hon. Ludwig Scotty read out
a letter from President Sprent Dabwido advising the Speaker to
dissolve the country's 18-member parliament, when Parliament
convened this morning (Friday 1st)
Under Article 41 of the Constitution, the Speaker must dissolve
Parliament on Friday 8 March 2013 if no resolution for the removal
from office of the President and Ministers under Article 24 is
submitted before that date.
After reading the letter, Mr Scotty took the opportunity to
express his disappointment over the behaviour of members during the
last sitting on February 7th.
He said due to the conduct of members, the House was in a
shambles and the Chair was put to shame.
After his comments, he immediately adjourned the Housesine
die(indefinitely, or without nominating a date or time).
Meanwhile, former president Marcus Stephen, who was sacked from
his ministerial portfolio by President Dabwido three weeks ago, has
told Nauru Television, the form of adjournment used by the Speaker
this morning is unconstitutional, by denying Members the
opportunity to challenge the dissolution should they so wish.
He said that while the outcome may have been the same had there
been a challenge from the Members, the abrupt adjournment using
thesine dieoption essentially meant the Speaker was determining the
matter rather than the elected members.
Mr Stephen foreshadowed a possible challenge in the Supreme
Court which commences its first sitting for the year next week.
ENDS///