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{
    "id": 184645,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/184645/?format=api",
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    "content": "A MEMBER SUSPENDED FROM HOUSE SERVICE SHOULD WITHDRAW FROM PRECINCTS OF PARLIAMENT Hon. Members, let me move on to the second Communication from the Chair. We are all, no doubt, aware that the Chair is enjoined to maintain order in the House by the rules that relate to order and that regulate the conduct of its business. In particular, Standing Order No.82 provides as follows:- \"Order shall be maintained in the House by Mr. Speaker and, in a Committee of the whole House, by the Chairman of such Committee; but disorder in the Committee may be censured only by the House on receiving a report thereof.\" I am certain that hon. Members are also aware of the mechanism provided by the Standing 2630 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES October 9, 2008 Orders to deal with disorder within the House, and I wish to draw the attention of Members to the provisions of Standing Order No.88(1), which provides as follows:- \"Mr. Speaker or the Chairman of Committees shall order any Member whose conduct is grossly disorderly to withdraw immediately from the precincts of the Assembly during the reminder of that day's sitting; and the Serjeant-at-Arms shall act on such orders as he may receive from the Chair in pursuance of this Standing Order; but if on any occasion Mr. Speaker or the Chairman deems that his powers under the foregoing provisions of this Standing Order are inadequate, he may name such Member or Members, in which event the procedure prescribed in Standing Order No.89 (Member may be suspended after being named) shall be followed\". Standing Order No.91 further states thus:- \"Any Member who is ordered to withdraw under Standing Order 88 (Disorderly conduct) or who is suspended from the service of the House under Standing Order 89 (Member may be suspended after being named) shall forthwith withdraw from the precincts of the Assembly and shall during the period of such withdrawal or suspension continuously (except during a recess) forfeit his right of access thereto\". Hon. Members, it has come to the knowledge of the Chair that some Members of the House are not clear as to what suspension entails. It is the duty of the Speaker to guide hon. Members accordingly, which I hereby do by stating as follows:- Pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order 88(1) which I quoted earlier, any Member whose conduct is grossly disorderly shall be ordered to withdraw immediately from the precincts of the Assembly. Standing Order No.2 defines the precincts of the Assembly as follows:- \"Precincts of the Assembly\" includes the Chamber of the National Assembly, every part of the buildings in which are situated such Chambers, the offices of the Assembly, the galleries and places provided for the use of accommodation of Members, strangers, members of the public and representatives of the Press (which covers the tent), and any forecourt, yard, garden, enclosure or open space appurtenant thereto and used or provided for the purposes of the Assembly\". This, in essence, means that a Member suspended from the service of the House should withdraw from the precincts of the Assembly and consequently forfeit his or her rights of access to any part of the precincts of the Assembly during the period of suspension subject to the exemptions stipulated under Standing Order No.91. This is the procedure according to our rules which is also consistent with the procedure and statutes in other jurisdictions envisaged under Standing Order No.1(a). I, therefore, request hon. Members to take note and fully comply with the procedure, but add that I remain optimistic that no Member will breach the rules that the House has set for itself to warrant or necessitate suspension from the Assembly. Thank you."
}