Georgetown : The Government yesterday tabled five new bills in the National Assembly, which were also read for the first time. These were presented by Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Basil Williams, Minister of Finance Winston Jordan and Minister of Communities Ronald Bulkan.
The opposition People’s Progressive Party which has 32 seats in the National Assembly was absent from the Sitting.
These are the Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2015, the Former Presidents’ (Benefits and other facilities) Bill 2015, the Fiscal Management and Accountability (Amendment) Bill 2015, the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (Amendment) Bill 2015 and the Local Government (Amendment) Bill 2015.
Minister Williams said that the Constitution Amendment Bill when passed will grant financial autonomy to Constitutional agencies. These include the Office of the Auditor General, the Public, Police and Teaching Service Commissions, the Guyana Elections Commission, the Supreme Court, Public Prosecutions, Office of the Ombudsman and the Public Service Appellate Tribunal.
Finance Minister Jordan said that the Fiscal Management and Accountability Bill will amend the Fiscal Management and Accountability Act, extending the application of the act to the Minister. It will also free the agencies catered for under Constitutional Amendment Bill 2015 from their automatic obligation to their budgetary agencies.
The Former Presidents’ (Benefits and other Facilities) Bill, will caps some of the benefits including tax free concessions, to which former presidents are now entitled. This bill also specifies some conditions under which the benefits may be enjoyed.
The Anti Money Laundering bill will amend the AML/CTF Act and the Local Government Amendment Bill allow for the setting of the date for local government elections, which were last held in 1994.
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