Long, extended sittings 'killing us' – Minority

The Minority in parliament is pushing for an early adjournment of the house over health concerns.

First Deputy Minority Whip, Ahmed Ibrahim, said in the house on Friday, 29 March 2019 that the practice of having late night sittings and extended periods of parliamentary meetings is having a toll on their health as well as that of reporters who are compelled to endure such long hours.

His comments follow a proposal to delay the intended adjournment date of 5 April 2019 until 12 April 2019.

Mr Ibrahim wondered which sort of serious business could warrant such an extension, since, according to him, no agenda was currently before them.

"Why should you be calling for the addition of one more week?" he asked in parliament.

In his opinion, "Everybody has been overstretched to the elastic point".

He pointed out that there have been extended sittings in the past three weeks and "even next week, we are going to have extended sitting".