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National Assembly

Assembly approves supplementary budget |30 October 2019

The National Assembly in its session yesterday morning briefly continued debate on a supplementary budget estimate of R310,315,123.64 from a budget cut of the sum of R435,916,171.87 and to provide for a net budget cut of R125,601,048.23 laid before the National Assembly in Accordance with Article 154(6) of the Constitution read with Article 154(7) which started last week.

Debate was suspended after the Finance and Public Accounts Committee (FPAC) was asked to carry out an assessment on the different sums presented under four different heads in relation to the benefits and approved programmes for the Agency of Social Protection, namely, the homecare scheme, disability benefits, welfare assistance and the unemployment relief scheme.

It was the leader of government business, Charles de Commarmond, who tabled the motion to that effect.

Meanwhile the Assembly has also resolved to ratify the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products following a motion also tabled by Mr de Commarmond.

Another motion resolving the Assembly to quash S.I 59 of 2019 in accordance with Section 44(2) of the Interpretation and General Provision Act

tabled by Gervais Henrie, elected Assembly member for Mont Buxton, also received the approval of Assembly members.

In his presentation, Mr Henrie explained that the S.I covers all regulations which allow for the establishment of a Speakers’ Corner under the Public Assembly Act.

It is to be recalled that it was December 13 last year that the Assembly voted 27 votes for as members on both sides had concerns with S.I 73 of 2018.

“The Assembly demands were clear when it quashed the S.I 73 when it asked the executive to go back to the drawing board and come back with an S.I which satisfies everyone and meet the demands of every all sides, but has the executive listened? This is not the case as the executive has come back with more or less the same provision,” Mr Henrie noted.  

The National Assembly resumes its deliberations this morning.

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