Eva to Nasheed: Give us time to meet our constituents!

North Galolhu MP Eva Abdulla has appealed to the Speaker of Parliament, former President Mohamed Nasheed to allow her and her fellow parliamentarians a break from their busy schedule at the Parliament to meet their constituents.

Eva made the appeal by making use of the debate time on revisions to parliamentary regulations this Tuesday.

Eva said that parliamentarians, in addition to maintaining their integrity, also needed to me active members of their constituencies.

She said that time to listen to concerns of constituents, time to exchange ideas with constituents, and an office to carry out such meetings was of immense importance to parliamentarians.

“It’s my sincere appeal to the Speaker of Parliament to allow us this time. We presently spend practically 24/7 at this Parliament. And we need some time to prepare for a surgery,” said Eva.

Nasheed responded that the two days in which the Parliament is not in session – Sundays and Thursdays – are available for parliamentarians to meet their constituents.

“But I see I am tasking honorable members of this Parliament with work on those days as well. And we are sometimes required to travel,” said Nasheed.

Nasheed noted that several parliamentarians have already opened their offices to improve connectivity with their constituents. He said that opening offices was highly recommended, but noted the need to regulate the offices.

The 19th Parliament is yet to cancel a sitting. And parliamentary committees are engaged in work day and evening.

Nasheed announced on Monday that he planned on holding extra sittings in the evening in the days leading up to the Eid al-Adha holiday to clear the tasks in the Parliament’s agenda before it adjourns for the long holiday.