At the start of this parliamentary sitting, the Speaker made three announcements regarding the drawing of lots exercise for the hierarchy of the Parliamentary Questions on the Order Paper. He said that there were allegations from Patrick Assirvaden. In his first announcement, Sooroojdev Phokeer said that this is a purely administrative process where the Speaker is not even present during the ballot exercise. “Regarding allegations that I have a secret code, its existence is purely fictitious,” he said before asking Patrick Assirvaden to go to the nearest police station or go to the court to address the situation if he is not convinced.
In another announcement, the Speaker condemned the allegations of Hon Patrick Assirvaden who, according to him, has insinuated that there have been “mardaye and magouille”. For Sooroojdev Phokeer, the opposition member has attack the integrity of the Clerk and administrative officers of the National Assembly.
In the last announcement, he said he received a letter from Hon Patrick Assirvaden in which he said that there was “unilateral highjacking of the drawing of lots exercise”. The Speaker insisted that in today’s sitting, the first question, for the PMQT and Question Time, is from Opposition. He asked the Whip of the Opposition if he is maintaining these allegations. “Yes, I maintain,” Assirvaden replied. The Speaker said he is leaving the matter to the House.
