By William Madouk
Speaker of Central Equatoria State Transitional Legislative Assembly has banned the use and carrying of mobile phones by lawmakers during parliamentary sessions.
Announcing the decision during a sitting yesterday, Rt. Hon. Peter Wani Kulang, said lawmakers need to focus and stay uninterrupted in legislative proceedings.
“I would like to tell all of us, honourable members of this August House that from today onward all the devices, the telephone are not needed in the August House here,” said Kulang.
“This is in accordance with our conduct of business regulation. All the devices and the telephone are not allowed to be here – so I ask the protocol to make sure all telephones are out of the House,” he added.
During parliamentary sittings, MPs often have their eyes glued to their phones while chatting, browsing, or answering calls. Such distractions draw the attention of everyone in the hall.
Deputy Chairperson of Specialized Committee for Information at the Assembly, Morris Andrea Lupe believes that stopping Members of Parliament from using mobile phones during proceedings in the Chamber is long overdue.
He stated that this practice is fast becoming a huge distraction to the business of the House.
“The speaker has the right to ban that because sometimes when Honorable members are deliberating on some burning issues, we expect calls, so these calls may disturb the session which is not right,” Lupe told journalists.
Legislator Lupe explained that MPs can leave their phones and devices in the offices or with protocol officers before entering the hall for a sitting.
“As the procedure in the conduct of business it is not allowed for members to enter during the sittings with phones,” he added. “He has the right to put his phone in the office and enter without a telephone.”
Such rules are stronger in some other countries, irrespective of circumstance.
In Greece, electronic devices are banned from the plenary hall, while the Finnish chamber prohibits the use of laptops.
Lawmakers are expected to adhere to the new rule, as failure to comply may result in disciplinary action.