Hon. Sooroojdev PHOKEER, GCSK, GOSK Elected Speaker as from 21 November 2019
The Speakership is the most important office in the House. The first business of the House is to elect a Speaker when the Assembly first meets, after a general election. The Constitution provides that the Speaker may or may not be an elected Member of the House. The Government and the Opposition normally agree on a candidate.
The main function of the Speaker is to ensure that the Standing Orders and Rules of the National Assembly are complied with. The Speaker interprets and enforces the Standing Orders and for the purpose of interpretation, recourse is often had to Erskine May's Parliamentary Practice, responds to Members' points of order and give rulings when necessary. His ruling cannot be challenged, except on a substantive motion to that effect, and any criticism of his actions outside Parliament may amount to contempt of the National Assembly.
Hon. NAZURALLY Mohammud Zahid, Elected Speaker as from 21 November 2019
At the beginning of each Parliament, the House also elects a Member to the position of Deputy Speaker, proceeding in the same manner as for the election of the Speaker. In the absence of the Speaker or whenever requested by the latter, the Deputy Speaker takes the Chair and has the same powers and functions as the Speaker.
The Deputy Speaker is also the Chairman of Committees when the Speaker chooses not to chair the Committee.
See more Former Deputy Speakers
Hon. NUCKCHEDDY Sanjit Kumar, Elected Speaker as from 21 November 2019
The Deputy Chairman of Committees is another official of the National Assembly elected from amongst its Members. The process of election of the Deputy Chairman of Committees is similar to that of the Deputy Speaker . In the absence of both the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker, the Deputy Chairman of Committees presides over the Committee of the whole House.
See more Former Deputy Chairman of Committees
Hon. Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, The Leader of the House as from 24 January 2017
The Leader of the House is normally the Leader of a Party or Alliance, who controls the majority in the House, and as such, it is the Prime Minister who assumes this role.
List of Former Leaders of the House
Hon. DUVAL Charles Gaëtan Xavier-Luc, GCSK, FCA, The Leader of the Opposition
After a general election, the party or party alliance which commands a majority forms the Government, while the other party or party alliance provides the Opposition. The Leader of the second largest majority party in the Assembly becomes the Leader of the Opposition. The Leader of the Opposition is appointed by the President. His task is usually to level criticism against the policy and administration of Government and to outline the alternative policies.
At the beginning of each Parliament, a Government Chief Whip, a Deputy Government Whip and an Opposition Whip are appointed. The main responsibility of the Whips is to ensure the smooth running of the parliamentary machinery. The parliamentary work load of the Chief Government Whip is somewhat heavier by reason that he is concerned, amongst other matters, with the details of the Government business of the day, for example, to estimate the time likely to be taken by each item. He is directly responsible to the Leader of the House.
The Government Chief Whips and the Opposition Whip liaise with each other in relation to business arrangements and to matters of concern to the House such as, drawing up a list of orators for the debate in respect of a Bill, which is being presented.
The Whips keep their Members informed about the business of the House, secure the attendance of Members and act as intermediairies between the leaders and the rank and file of their parties in order to keep each informed of the views of the other.
The Secretariat of the Assembly is headed by the Clerk of the Assembly. She provides the Speaker and Members with secretarial assistance. She is the chief administrative officer of the National Assembly and works under the control of the Speaker. She is a permanent officer and a member of the Civil Service, having expert knowledge in parliamentary procedures and practice. She is the custodian of all documents and records pertaining to the Assembly. She advises the Speaker and Members on matters of procedure. She sits at the Table. She sends to each Member a copy of the Order Paper. The Clerk must see to it that the bills passed by the National Assembly are assented to by the President of the Republic and published in the Government Gazette.
In the performance of her duties, the Clerk is assisted by the Deputy Clerk and two Clerk Assistants.
The Mace is the symbol of the authority of the House
The Mace is the symbol of the authority of the House. The Mace used in Mauritius is a gift of the British House of Commons. On entering and leaving the Chamber - at the beginning and end of the sitting - the Speaker is preceded by the Mace, which is carried by the Serjeant-at-arms on his right shoulder. When the Speaker is in the Chair, that is, when the House is sitting as a House, the Mace lies on the Table of the House, resting in the upper brackets. When the House sits as a committee, that is, when the Speaker leaves the Chair, the Mace is removed into the lower brackets beneath the Table. When the Mace is not in the House, no business can be carried out.
Mr Vinod Pannoo, Assistant Superintendent of PoliceThe Serjeant At Arms as from 03 April 2015
The duty of the Serjeant-at-Arms is to maintain order within the grounds of Parliament House. He leads the procession at the Parliament sitting, bearing the Mace on his right shoulder.
He regulates the admission of the public to Parliament House and has the power to arrest, without a warrant, upon the orders of the Speaker, any person creating a disturbance in Parliament.
The staff of the Secretariat consists of the Clerk, the Deputy Clerk, the Clerk Assistant, the librarian, the parliamentary reporters and supporting staff.
The Parliament Library is meant for the exclusive use of Members of Parliament. It is involved in the collection, organization and dissemination of information. The library has a collection of approximately 8000 volumes, consisting of books, journals, newspapers, parliamentary publications, debates and legislation. Parliamentary business is now available online. Members of Parliament benefit also from Internet facilities.
The Parliamentary reporters take down, word-for-word, what is being said in the debates. These reporters take their notes in shorthand before transcribing them. The notes are then compiled and published as the Official Reports of Parliament, more popularly known as the Hansard. The reporters record in verbatim the proceedings in the House and take turns to sit in the Chamber for 10 minutes. The parliamentary reporters also take down the note for the meetings of the various committees of Parliament.
