The Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga has said that it is important for the government and the population to appreciate that the global security threats including terrorism affect everyone if Parliament is attacked.
The Speaker who is attending the 23rd Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, also said that Speakers should understand that their role in maintaining the security of the House is distinct.
“With the global threat of terrorism, parliaments must be constantly vigilant in balancing national and human security and individual freedoms,” Rt Hon Kadaga said at the three-day conference that brings together Speakers and Presiding Officers from the Commonwealth to promote knowledge and understanding of parliamentary democracy and practice.
The Speaker of the House of Commons of Canada Rt Hon Geoff Regan, said that it is important for the government to budget for security in Parliament and other integrated forces in order to safeguard the institution. He cited the attack on the Canadian Parliament Hill that left several officers dead and the entire country’s faith and its safety tested.
A Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons emphasized that Speakers are responsible for the control and administration of the parliamentary precincts.
The conference will among other issues discuss the security of parliament, challenges facing the independence of speakers, parliamentary privilege and protecting the effective functioning democracies.
