The financial reports of Members of Parliament should be sent to the Auditing Ombudsman for review and should only be tabled in Parliament if discrepancies are found, the Association of Former Members of Parliament is recommending.

The association has made a number of proposals in view of the ongoing debate about whether MPs should be full-time or not.

The association agrees that all MPs should be on a full-time basis. Every Member should be financially independent.

It said that medical specialists and doctors “can only do voluntary work at Government Hospitals so as not to use their practice.” All other professionals do not need practice apart from still enjoying remuneration from their associate companies.

It also believes that MPs should have their staff and offices to assist in their research work. “No MP should, for a period of 5 years be engaged in any field of work that was under His/Her Ministry.”

“MPs’ financial reports are to be sent to the Auditing Ombudsman for financial revues. Only and if the Auditing Ombudsman find discrepancies in one’s statements will he then table these in Parliament for discussion.

Prospective Candidates should prior to elections be given lectures about the Constitution and how Parliament works and its regulations by their own political parties.

When a new Candidate is elected then during the 2 months prior to Parliament’s opening, it will be Mr Speaker’s Office who will be obliged to issue lectures of how Parliament works and how to behave.

Mr Speaker Office should introduce much more severe civil language and attitude by MPs during Parliamentary Sittings.”