Parliament to resume today

By HELEN TARAWA
PARLIAMENT resumes at 2pm today for its first session of the year with the Covid-19 protocol measures fully in place, clerk Kala Aufa says.
Aufa told The National that as part of the control measures, the Parliament session would not be open to the public.
He said only members of parliament (MPs) would be allowed in the chamber and the media would cover the session and relay to the nation.
Last week, Parliament commenced on a scaled down exercise on staff as part of its measures in place to address the Covid-19.
Aufa said the exercise was to monitor the movement of people into Parliament.
He said it was a precautionary measure that was undertaken as per the protocols that had been imposed by the authorities.
Aufa said concerns were raised on the safety of the workers following the death of a Parliament employee due to the Covid-19.
He said the whole building was fumigated and cleaned up last week for Parliament session.
“Most of the staff have been recalled and appropriate measures have been put in place for the session,” Aufa said, adding that staff of MPs would be allowed in for the session but with extra care and caution. The Covid-19 protocols, including sanitising of hands and checking of body temperature, will be fully observed.
Aufa said the “no-mask, no-entry” policy would also apply to everyone, including MPs.
He said Parliament session would most likely run for two weeks.