A very interesting debate took place in Parliament this week. A SODELPA MP who is also a lawyer had to be schooled on what sub judice means.

Lynda Tabuya stood in Parliament seeking clarification on whether Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama was not revealing much on the investigations against former Fiji Sugar Corporation executive chair Abdul Khan.

She claimed that Mr Bainimarama had cited a part of the Standing Order which says matters which were sub judice should not be dealt with in Parliament.

She spoke too soon, and the next day two petitions were tabled in Parliament from her side which were in fact, sub judice.

Sub judice basically means something is under judicial consideration and therefore prohibited from public discussion elsewhere.

But, Ms Tabuya was so very wrong when she did not even read the Standing Orders properly and asked her question. This has become a recurring problem with lawyers on their side of the House and she is now the butt of jokes because of this.

Opposition MPs really need to do more research and read more before they make a mockery of themselves in Parliament. A crash course on what sub judice means from the Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum means Ms Tabuya will not be repeating that mistake again. We deserve better debates than this.

Edited by Susana Tuilau

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