Georgetown: Presidential Advisor on Governance, Gail Teixeira confirmed that the four local government Bills have not yet been presented to President Donald Ramotar, contrary to the impressions that are being conveyed in some sections of the media. She also affirmed that the Constitution has not been violated.
Sitting in for Head of the Presidential Secretariat Dr Roger Luncheon, she explained that if the President wishes to withhold his assent, constitutionally, he has 21 days (from the day of receipt) to return it to the Parliament with a letter explaining his reason (s) for withholding.
The President has exercised this power with two Opposition Bills; the Fiscal Management and Accountability (Amendment) (FMAA) Bill of 2012, and the Former President’s (Benefits and other Facilities) Bill, both of which were deemed fundamentally flawed and violates constitutional provisions.
On the other hand, if the President wishes to assent to a Bill, constitutionally, he has up to 70 days to do so. At present, the local government four Bills are being carefully vetted at the Attorney General’s Chambers to make them ready for enactment.
The Bills include: Fiscal Transfers Bill 2012, Municipal and District Councils (Amendment) Bill, Local Government (Amendment) Bill and the Local Government Commission Bill.
