PARLIAMENT LACKS QUORUM TO DELIBERATE PARTIES BILL
Inside the Parliament Chamber of Solomon Islands. Photo: Courtesy of Radio Australia.
Parliament’s House Committee was unable to begin deliberations on the Political Parties Integrity Bill today, because of a lack of quorum.
The Bill, which will provide for ‘the registration, administration and development of political parties’, was passed last night after winning 25 votes in Parliament.
Only six MPs voted against the Bill while 18 MPs were absent and did not vote.
The Bill will also see the establishment of a Commission and a Registrar’s Office.
Deputy Speaker, Job Dudley Tausinga gave a fifteen minute allowance after 9.30am this morning to see if more MPs would turn up.
He, however adjourned Parliament saying there was still no quorum after the time allowance lapsed.
“The fifteen minutes given to form the quorum has now lapsed and the quorum required is fifteen, a half of the members. The Chair is satisfied that we do not have that number to make up the quorum, so under Standing Order 12 (2) in accordance with Section 67 of the Constitution, Parliament is now adjourned until Friday the 23rd of May, 2014. Parliament is now adjourned.”