Same-ap has become the self-serving of the power

During the plenary week in March, the meeting plan of the Sami Parliament’s representatives was on the agenda. We in the Northern Calotte people delivered a proposal, which we have made every time, a proposal that entails savings both in terms of meetings and money. Precisely to be able to give more money to the people, instead of spending them on ourselves at the Sami Parliament.

The other parties, besides Frp, think the opposite! Namely, that we should have long and many meeting weeks, that is, more money to the representatives. We usually have a maximum of three cases to be dealt with in each of the professional committees in the individual committee week. We have plenty of time, very good time, when we spend 1 week dealing with three cases.

The Northern Calotte people start their case processing of the cases with the same cases made public for us representatives, 4 weeks before plenary. We use the time, in advance, to anchor and design our own proposals according to our own views and to voters. In this way, we meet at the first committee meeting with completed proposals from us. After all, we receive almost NOK 90,000 in annual permanent remuneration to be elected Sami representatives, in addition we get NOK 1900 for each meeting day. It should only be missing that we do not work with politics and case preparation between the meeting weeks in the Sami Parliament. We are simply paid for it.

I will not embark on speculating what the other parties to the Sami Parliament spend time for, but we are not uncommon for Thursday afternoon until the other parties submit their proposals. After the end of the week, we can watch « the whole » three meeting hours in the committee. The rest of the time is spent waiting for the other parties’ views.

The Northern Calotte people have repeatedly pointed out that the meeting weeks can be reduced if all parties and representatives come prepared for the meetings. We can be more effective and at the same time reduce the money we spend on ourselves. We speak for deaf ears, also this time.

Arild Inga from Ap was up on the voice chair and talked warmly about the many and long meeting weeks, and how important it is for democracy. It should be unsaid what democracy representative Inga thinks about, but for us it is important that we promote our policies that our voters have chosen us with. We do not need to spend more meeting days on the Sami Parliament and associated meeting allowance to find out what it consists of. As I said, we work in advance.

Arild Inga’s closing commentary in the debate clearly shows Ap’s unwillingness to both efficiency and prioritize more funds for the Sami people; « We don’t want to work with anyone who wants to cut down the meeting weeks! » Was said, with a look at NSR that warmed the entire plenary hall! That they cooperate today is a fact. Ap and NSR go hand in hand, with an agreement on the plenary leader and extra votes to ensure that NSR gets their will in the plenary hall. That they will cooperate after the next Sami election is thus secured! Like the tip and little mother, hand in hand, also the next Sami election!

We in the Northern Calotte people were surprised. Not over the cooperation between them, we knew that. But that Ap promoted ultimatum where the most important issue for them is the number of meeting weeks for Sami representatives. No rights for resident Sami, no more funds for Sami purposes, not fishing rights, but that the number of meeting weeks should be retained, and that we should continue to spend more than is necessary, on ourselves.

The Northern Calotte people will also streamline the meeting weeks, so that more funds can go out for other purposes. With sober calculation, a meeting week will save us 1.3 million. When all representatives meet prepared and we reduce the 3 hour lunch break we have every meeting day, we will be able to save 4 weeks a year. In total, it will amount to 5.2 million. This can cover two Doudjiverk sites or 26 teacher grants of NOK 200,000 a year – converted into measures.

For us in the Northern Calotte people, the priority is easy. We are the servants of the people – not the self -serving of the power.

Gry Warth

Sami Representative for the Northern Calotte People