62 sittings and over $105M spent in Tenth Parliament…12 Bills assented to in 2012

Sep 25, 2013 News

Since its first sitting in January 2012, the Tenth Parliament has been one filled with drama as its members struggled over the unusual situation where the combined Opposition held a one-seat voting majority.
There have been walkouts, a vote of no-confidence, and refusal by President Donald Ramotar to assent key Bills on the grounds that they are unconstitutional.

There have been questions whether enough work has been done in the 10th Parliament.

Along the way, there have been criticisms that not much work has been done in what is Guyana’s biggest stage where laws are made.
The 65-member National Assembly is currently on a two-month annual break and due to reconvene next month.
In total, there were 62 sittings, according to figures provided by staffers at the Parliament. Each sitting of the National Assembly costs approximately $1.7M, making it just over $105M spent between January 2012 and the last sitting in August. This amount includes food costs, transportation for Members of Parliament who live in the hinterland, hotel accommodations, paperwork and overtime for staffers.
MPs also have oversight authority on various aspects of the economy including Natural Resources, Finance, Public Works, Housing and Social Services. These committees, too, are meeting from time to time and also come at a cost. Then there are also special committees established to look into matters pertaining to legislation, among other things.
There were 138 meetings from the 23 or so committees of the National Assembly between January 2012 and August this year. In total, 56 resolutions were passed from motions tabled by both sides.
Last year, according to information from Parliament, there were just 12 bills that were made into law. Four of them were supplementary appropriations or financial bills pertaining to monies to be spent from the government coffers. Also passed were the Local Authorities (Elections Amendment) Bill 2012; Income Tax Amendment Bill 2012; Motor Vehicle and Road Traffic Amendment Bill 2012; Summary Jurisdiction Procedure Amendment 20132; Official Gazette Bill 2012 and Civil Law (Rights of the Persons in Common-Law Union) Bill 2012.
This year, up to August, 10 acts were passed, according to figures from Parliament. There were no indications as to how many were assented to by the President.
These included the Music and Dance Licence (Amendment) Bill 2012; Sexual Offence (Amendment) Bill; Business Names Registration (Amendment) Bill 2012; Deeds and Commercial Registries Authority Bill 2012; Supplementary Appropriation (Three for 2012) Bill 2013; Fiscal Management and Accountability (Amendment) Bill; Former Presidents (Benefits and Other Facilities) Bill 2012; Local Authorities (Elections Amendment) Bill 2013; Supreme Court of Judicature (Appeal) Amendment Bill and Constitution Amendment Bill.
Last year, key Bills by both Government and Opposition were tabled to allow new players in the telephone and telecommunication business. However, because of ongoing negotiations between Government, Digicel and GT&T, the debate of the bills have been delayed.
Also in limbo are the anti-money laundering Bills which are set to be debated in the next session, which starts in October. Failure to pass the Bills in time for a November deadline set by international anti-money laundering bodies could very well see Guyana attracting financial sanctions that could affect banking and money transfer transactions.
A major piece of legislation that was voted down by the Opposition was the Firearms Amendment Bill, which Government insisted is critical to reducing gun crimes in the country.
Another legislation change that ended up in trouble was the Former Presidents (Benefits and other Facilities) Bill 2012, and the Fiscal Management and Accountability (Amendment Bill) 2012.
The latter seeks to restore the Constitutional status of the “independent entities”, under the Constitution.These include the Guyana Elections Commission, the Courts, the Office of the Ombudsman and other such agencies.
The Former President (Benefits and other Facilities) Bill of 2012 seeks to cap the various benefits granted to former Presidents and thus protect taxpayers’ money.
With the reduction of the National Budget by the Opposition two years in a row, the situation in the National Assembly has been more than tense as both sides of the House battle for ground on legislation.
The situation took a turn for the worse when the Opposition blocked two pieces of legislation for the Amaila Falls Hydro Project, leading to the Government saying that the venture was dead until a new investor is found.
With the administration making it clear that it will not okay some of the more important legislation tabled by the Opposition, it is unlikely any improvements will happen in a hurry in the next Parliamentary session.
Already, the Opposition has said it has done what it was voted in for.
“We have been asking lots of questions…on the radio licences; the airport expansion; the Marriott…so many other issues. We have tabled many motions and it is democracy at its best. We have had no confidence motions. It is settling differences in the National Assembly rather than on the streets,” said Leader of the Alliance For Change, Khemraj Ramjattan, on the performance of the 10th Parliament.