16 Feb 2015

Fiji opposition encouraged by parliament changes

3:55 pm on 16 February 2015

The Leader of the Opposition says Fiji's Parliament has improved its democratic operations after a parliamentary visit to the United Kingdom.

Ro Teimumu Kepa was part of a delegation, including the speaker and the Secretary-General of Parliament, which observed the operations of the UK Parliament.

Ro Teimumu Kepa, Fiji's SODELPA leader

Ro Teimumu Kepa, Fiji's SODELPA leader Photo: RNZ / Republika

Ro Teimumu says before the trip she was concerned that parliamentary committees were not meeting with 13 bills last year rushed through without scrutiny.

However she says this week the committees have begun to meet.

She also says a controversial method of parliamentary party funding, restricting finances depending on size of parties, has now been changed

Ro Teimumu says she hopes it will be the beginning of a new era in the parliament.

"When you are functioning under a dictatorship it is not easy for you to listen to another side in terms of debate so for us to go through and to hear both sides having very healthy debates it was very enlightening, especially after the difficulties we've had."

The Leader of the Opposition Ro Teimumu Kepa.

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