Vaccine hesitancy among parliament staff is delaying the holding of Committee meetings both physically and virtually, Speaker Manzoor Nadir has said.
“We still have a couple of challenges including the fact that a couple of persons are refusing to get vaccinated and if they don’t get vaccinated we are going to have to get them tested. To go back to full meetings we are going to need our staff complement especially those that need to be around to do the internet along with the physical servicing of the equipment vaccinated. That’s one of the issues I’m speaking with the Clerk about,” Nadir told Stabroek News on Friday.
Asked if there is any indication about the percentage of staff already vaccinated, the speaker explained that he is expecting an update including such information from Clerk Sherlock Isaacs today.
Last month Parliament Office announced that all meetings of Parliamentary Committees and Sub-Committees at the Public Buildings would be discontinued due a rise in COVID-19 cases nationally.
A press release explained that the decision was taken by Speaker Manzoor Nadir after five members of staff tested positive during the second week of April.
“The Speaker has since instructed the Clerk of the National Assembly to sanitize the entire building and to ensure that the COVID-19 guidelines are fully in place for Members of Parliament, staff, and visitors to the Public Buildings,” the release said.
It added that the Speaker will give approval for virtual meetings of Committees when he is satisfied that all Members have access to the internet so that they can participate fully in meetings of Committees. This has not occurred.
The release added that those Members of Parliament who have still not been vaccinated against the virus are encouraged to do so.
