The Transitional National Legislative Assembly (TNLA) on Tuesday called off a parliamentary session following the death of Honorable Veronica Louis.
She was an MP in the TNLA since 2010 on an SPLM ticket from Tambura County of Western Equatoria state.
The parliament was expected to receive a joint report of the standing specialized committee on National Security and Public Order, Legislation, and Justice on the National Police Service Amendment Bill 2022 at the third reading to be presented by Simon Kun Pouch.
The First Deputy Speaker Oyet Nathaniel Pierino who was chairing the sitting said the session could not continue while their colleague lay in the mortuary.
“The body is still lying in the mortuary and as the leadership of the parliament we cannot proceed with the sitting while one of our members’ body is lying in the mortuary,” he said. “We have lost one member sadly again. I remember last week we announced the loss of another member who served the first parliament even the other week we also had a sad moment where we also lost our member.”
He said, Hon. Veronica’s death came as a shock as he had a meeting with her the day before and she looked well.
“Honorable Veronica Louis last Friday was in my office, she came with the acting chairperson of her committee for a meeting. She was well and not complaining of any sickness but unfortunately when people returned home the following day we received the sad news of her demise which is heartbreaking,” he said.
According to Nathaniel, the parliament has lost several MPs in the past month.
The deputy speaker said preparations to bring the body to the parliament for viewing will take place on Wednesday before the family lays her to rest.