HEAD of the Presidential Secretariat (HPS) and Cabinet Secretary, Dr. Roger Luncheon explained yesterday that the primary reason for the continuation of Parliamentary sessions through the traditional recess period is to facilitate the completion of the legislative work of the Ninth Parliament. He offered the explanation during his weekly post-Cabinet media briefing at Office of the President, Shiv Chanderpaul Drive, Bourda, Georgetown.
The National Assembly, on August 4, approved a motion by Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, on behalf of the Government, to have the National Assembly extend its regular sitting, beyond the August 10 deadline to September 27.
Amidst a rigorous debate by Parliamentarians, the opposition declined its support, claiming that the government had five years to complete its business in the House.
On the contrary, the Administration said the move is aimed at fulfilling prior promises made to ensure that remaining bills are passed into law before the Parliament is prorogued.
According to the HPS, Cabinet has noted the expressed reactions of the Opposition political parties in Parliament to the continued sittings during the recess.
He emphasised that, because of the need to pass the Access to Information Bill and the Telecommunications Bill, both of which are at the committee stage, it is necessary for Parliament to continue working.
In addition to this, Luncheon said it is the government’s intention to have the second reading of the Telecommunications Bill, subsequent to which it is intended to appoint a special select committee of Parliament to consider it in even greater detail.
“The Access to Information Bill is being considered with the commitment that after the second reading, like the Telecommunications Bill, to also have it considered in greater detail by the special select committee,” he said.
Luncheon said those are the two most important pieces of legislation that would conclude the parliamentary protocols.
The HPS said Cabinet also agreed to withhold the last of its priority pieces of legislation that was destined for the Ninth Parliament, the Wildlife Import and Export Bill, which would now be the focus during the Tenth Parliament.
“With the exception of planned financial papers, it is understood that no additional new legislation would be tabled in this period of the extended life of the National Assembly during the recess,” Luncheon assured.
He emphasised that today’s  sitting of the National Assembly is also an important one, as it is the occasion of the second reading of the Telecommunications Bill  and the subsequent amendments to the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) Act.
Government, last Thursday, tabled the Telecommunications Bill in Parliament that will, effectively, make it impossible for any company to monopolise the sector.
The Bill is expected to provide for an “open, liberalised and competitive communications sector …” and to address the expansion of telecommunications networks through the institution of a new universal access/universal services programme.
The legislation also calls for a number of changes in the policies and operations of the PUC and, as a result, a bill aimed at amending the PUC Act was also tabled.