Latest update November 26th, 2024 1:00 AM
Only two of three assented Bills reach Parliament
– Govt. claims administrative glitch
By Keeran Danny
An administrative glitch by the Office of the President is the reason for only two of the three Local Government Bills assented to by President Donald Ramotar being delivered to Parliament Office as of yesterday.
House Speaker, Raphael Trotman
This was the assertion of Government’s Chief Whip, Gail Teixeira, yesterday in the National Assembly, as she clarified comments by House Speaker Raphael Trotman, that only two of the Acts reached Parliament, contrary to reports in the media.
The information in the media was provided by Cabinet Secretary Dr. Roger Luncheon following his post-Cabinet press briefing on Wednesday. He had confirmed that the President had assented to the Fiscal Transfers Act, the Municipal and District Councils (Amendment) Act, and the Local Government Commission Act.
The President did not assent to the Local Government (Amendment) Bill.
According to Trotman, Parliament Office has been notified with respect to two of those Bills. He was unable to officially comment on the other two Acts. He said he had not seen a letter from President Ramotar identifying the reasons for the Bills not being assented to.
Armed with the three Acts that have been assented to, Teixeira spoke authoritatively that the media reports are accurate. She blamed an “administrative delay or administrative glitch” for the three Acts not being delivered at once.
A Partnership for National Unity Member of Parliament, Basil Williams said that the President assenting to those Acts is the initial step. He said for the Acts to be enforceable, there must be publication in the Official Gazette.
Speaker Trotman emphasised that it is the Clerk of the National Assembly’s responsibility to place the Acts in the Official Gazette and not the Office of the President.
According to Williams, the Local Government Commission Act becomes operative by way of the Minister of Local Government and Regional Development. As such, he called on the Minister to activate the Commission soon.
The Speaker cautioned that he believes the Minister is aware of his responsibilities.
While, no Parliamentarian commented on the outstanding Local Government (Amendment) Bill, Trotman explained that “Under Article 170 of the Constitution…where a Bill is so returned…to the Speaker, it shall not be presented again to the President, unless within six months of the Bill being so returned upon a motion supported by a vote not less than two-thirds of all the elected Members of Parliament…But, it must find itself back on the order paper.”
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