Parliament to have in-house restaurant, gym and shop

Speaker, former President Mohamed Nasheed announced on Wednesday that the Parliament is to have an in-house restaurant, gym and shop.

Opening the parliamentary sitting on Wednesday morning, Nasheed said the facilities are being established by the Parliament’s social club, composed of parliamentarians and staff members.

The new facilities will be located in the new building.

The restaurant will be located in the terrace, he said.

Nasheed said the shop, which will also be located in the new building, will be used to sell minutes of parliamentary sittings and reports.

“In accordance with the current regulations of the parliamentary club, it must be composed of parliamentarians and members of the staff of the Parliament. But as you know, this club is being established for former parliamentarians and retired members of the staff,” he said.

Nasheed said the restaurant will allow parliamentarians to meet and hold discussions with their constituents over a cup of coffee.

He said that desks for parliamentarians to conduct their work at the Parliament itself are ready, and that parliamentarians, along with their staff, will have access to it.

“But no parliamentarian has yet to arrange to bring [staff],” said Nasheed.

He added that cabins for committee chairs are ready, and said he hopes the committee chairs will use the cabins to brief staff members ahead of meetings.