limitations to be placed on how late the House of Assembly sits following Friday's 24-hour mammoth session.

Mr. Dunkley took the floor after 5 a.m. on Saturday to speak about the proposed changes to the constitution after listening to 19 hours of debate.

He said on an issue as important as the Constitution, Members of Parliament should not be expected to sit through the night.

And he said how could MPs make good, sound decisions when many were barely awake.

He said: "I feel, in an important debate on a motion like this today, we must have rocks in our heads to allow this House to go on to discuss something as important as this.

"People will think `are these leaders to go through the night and talk on something as important as this? Do they not have the sense to adjourn and come back another day?' "In most other countries they cut off business at a reasonable hour.'' During the debate in the House on Friday, many members of Parliament fell asleep in offices and the Members' lounge, and even snoozed in their seats within the chamber.

Shorten sittings, pleads Dunkley At one point, there were three backbenchers in Government asleep, which made comical viewing.

As the clock approached 6 a.m., many were barely able to keep their eyes open, others re-entered the chamber looking pale and dishevelled.

And as they spoke, many asked for forgiveness if they lost their train of thought due the late hour.