The Speaker of Parliament, Filimoni Jitoko has ruled that Constitution Avenue falls within the parliamentary precincts and is therefore subject to the authority and jurisdiction of the Speaker..

The Speaker highlighted this while addressing recent public discussion over a traffic booking involving a vehicle belonging to Opposition MP Jone Usamate, while he was on parliamentary duties.

Jitoko says it was necessary to clarify the meaning and extent of the parliamentary precincts.

While the Standing Orders refers to the parliamentary precincts as the parliamentary premises under the control of the Speaker, the Speaker said the definition was broad and required further clarification.

The Speaker referred to Section Two of the Parliamentary Powers and Privileges Act of 1965, which defines the precincts of Parliament as including the Chamber and offices of Parliament, areas provided for members of the public and the media, as well as the wider building complex and adjoining forecourts, yards, gardens, enclosures and open spaces used for parliamentary purposes.

Based on this statutory definition, the Speaker stated that the parliamentary precincts extend beyond the Chamber itself.

The Speaker said this includes Constitutional Avenue, which forms part of the forecourt and access areas associated with the Parliament buildings.

He explained that the term “appertaining” in the legislation gives Parliament an incidental right to areas associated with the main parliamentary property.