SIR Julius Chan and Ijivitari MP David Arore have both called for the establishment of a National Restoration Authority that can act quickly in times of disaster.
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GOOD morning. The call reminds us of a Government undertaking last year that the Fire Services, St John Ambulance and the National Disaster and Emergency Service would come under one central authority – the better to handle disasters. What happened to that idea? Has it been shelved or is it just waiting in a long queue of promises yet to be actioned?
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THERE’S a certain amount of mumbling going on at the demand for increased salaries for MPs coming from a newly-elected Member of Parliament. The Member for Sumkar claims that most hotels in POM charge some K500 per night, and MPs are “forced to live in squatter settlements”.
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CLEAN, secure and well-equipped hotel accommodation that is widely accepted by private sector management and staff is available in the capital for considerably less – and in any case, surely parliamentarians are meant to spend the bulk of their time in their electorates rather than indulging in the flesh pots of POM? On average, how many weeks a year does Parliament or its committees sit?
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AS for the members who are allegedly forced to live in squatter settlements, we can only hope that the experience convinces them of the pressing need to eliminate these blots on our city. Members should encourage those from rural electorates to stay home by improving working and technical educational opportunities for them in their home villages and towns.
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WITH the weekend at hand, we’ve been scouring the marquees for suitable films for our readers. Tonight at 7, Star Movies has Jerry Maguire, Columbia’s 1996 epic about a successful sports agent who becomes an idealist; the cast includes Tom Cruise, Cuba Gooding Jnr and Renee Zellweger. Mr Gooding won an Oscar for his performance.
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THEN at 6.30 on Saturday afternoon, 7 Central has Legally Blonde, with the delightful Reese Witherspoon; on Sunday night you can catch an excellent Agatha Christie mystery Towards Zero, complete with Miss Marple, at 8.30 on ABCTV. Enjoy your weekend!
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- Dee Nesenolis