Georgetown : The Government has signalled its intention to re-table several pieces of legislation in the National Assembly that initially did not find favour with the parliamentary Opposition. The next sitting is scheduled for December 12, when the Government’s business will take precedence.
Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr. Roger Luncheon said that Government will be seeking to reintroduce the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (Amendment) Bill for the House’s reconsideration.
He reiterated that given the resolution of the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) at its November 21 plenary to blacklist Guyana, re-tabling the Bill in Parliament is the only course that remains open to the country.
The Firearms (Amendment) Bill and the Evidence (Amendment) Bill, both of which were introduced by Home Affairs Minister, Clement Rohee, and which were voted down by the parliamentary Opposition will also be re-tabled.
Both and AFC and APNU had indicated that they will not support any legislation piloted by the Home Affairs Minister and as such, the Bills will be re-tabled by Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall.
The current Firearms Act of Guyana says that trafficking in firearms is not unlawful; this Bill however, seeks to make this activity a punishable offence. Meanwhile, the Evidence (Amendment) Bill, seeks to expand the range of documents/reports that can be admitted as evidence.
Additionally, the Government will be introducing the Summary Jurisdiction Procedure Bill. This piece of legislation seeks to provide for errant traffic offenders from Georgetown, to pay their fines in Georgetown regardless of wherever the offence occurred, for which fines were being levied. This way if a citizen of Georgetown was apprehended for speeding in Linden, Essequibo, Berbice or other such areas, successful enactment of this Bill will enable them to pay their fine in Georgetown.
Government will also be laying the wildlife legislation and move for the second reading of the Procurement (Amendment) Bill at the next sitting. This Bill seeks to retain the Government’s involvement in the process of procuring goods and services in Guyana.
With regards to the two Telecommunications Bills, Dr. Luncheon said that the Government is anticipating an initial sitting of the parliamentary special select committee that was appointed to consider those Bills for the purpose of the electing a chairperson.
Moreover, the financial papers and the accompanying Supplementary Appropriation Bill are also expected to engage the House’s attention.
The first paper deals with the constitutionally enabling statement of excess provisions, the second deals with advances from the contingency funds, and the third deals with the application by Government for supplementary provision to meet expenditure for activities planned for the fiscal year 2013.
You must be logged in to post a comment.