Entry Instance

HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept

{
    "id": 679445,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/679445/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 102,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Speaker",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "point of order. All you needed to do is to write an administrative letter. You are very good at writing letters. I am surprised you want to politicise the security of Parliament. The security of Parliament is not political. You have raised very good points. A proper communication from the Parliamentary Service Commission (PSC) will be issued, detailing and explaining all the processes. It is irresponsible to suggest that your own Commission has engaged strangers to come and profile Members. Nevertheless, I am not the one who is supposed to answer that question because it was a corporate decision by the Commission. The issues which you have raised will be picked from the HANSARD and then the Commission will write a proper communication, explaining why those persons had to be engaged. After many complaints from Members that the police officers were not doing their job, the Commission had to go out of its way to look for people who can afford to stand at the gate throughout. You cannot have your cake and eat it. Some of the people who are telling you that those people are strangers have refused to stand at the gates. Let me promise you that within the shortest time possible the Commission will issue proper communication explaining and detailing what everybody is supposed to do; what security departments exist within the institution of Parliament and how they are recruited. This is because I do not recruit. The same communication will give details on how they are identified, what training each has undergone so as to be considered for engagement, to do the work that each of them does. As we appreciate, there are departments of the Serjeant- at-Arms, Security, Police, GSU and hound dogs. All those are available within the institution. It is fair that a proper communication be processed by the Commission so that we can put this matter to rest. I have heard that question raised and watched those debates being made here from time to time. I think they have been raised to the wrong people. This is because when you raise them to the Speaker, he may not respond properly because those are employees of the PSC. Just like your own staffers, you also have partisan staffers. Some people could call them strangers, if they do not know them. Let me undertake that this matter will be addressed by the Commission so that Members will be made to appreciate who does what and in which place. If people are doing work in places they are not supposed to, that can be addressed by the Commission. I have heard this debate before and I wish Hon. Gumbo had, in his normal way, written his usually detailed administrative letters because that would have been a better way to deal with this issue. That notwithstanding, I undertake that there will be a proper communication from the PSC. This is because it affects not just this House but also the other House. As we are aware, the Commission has membership from both Houses. Whereas I thank you, it was not really a point order. I wish you had done it the other way. Nevertheless, it will be addressed. That is what I can undertake. I can see Commissioner Wanga is here. I am sure when they will sit, as a Commission they will deliberate on this matter."
}