Georgetown: President David Granger said that the benefits under the controversial Former President’s (Benefits and Other Facilities) Bill passed by the former administration will be capped.
The legislation was approved during the tenure of President Bharrat Jagdeo, but was brought back to the House after the combined A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC) secured a one-seat majority in the 10th Parliament following the 2011 Regional and General Elections.
Amendments were made to the Bill, but the legislation was not assented to by then President Donald Ramotar. Both the AFC and the APNU, while having no grouse with former presidents receiving benefits from the State on demitting office, strongly objected to those benefits being uncapped.
Under an APNU+AFC slate in the recent elections, the coalition promised to cap the benefits of former presidents, and the announcement by President Granger could be seen as a fulfilment of that promise.
Addressing the opening of the 11th Parliament on Wednesday, the President said a cap will be placed on the benefits of former presidents, including tax-free concessions. He also noted that some conditions will be specified under which the benefits are to be enjoyed.
Aside from the Former President’s Bill, President Granger said the APNU+AFC Government will bring forward legislation to secure strong and lasting constitutional reforms, and to guarantee good governance.
Among such legislation, he said is the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, which will amend the Constitution of Guyana to add certain entities — such as the Service Commissions and the Guyana Elections Commission that ought to enjoy financial autonomy as constitutional agencies.
The Office of the Clerk of the National Assembly Bill will also be introduced to establish an independent office of the Clerk of the National Assembly that would allow greater independence in the appointment of all staff of the Parliament Office.
Other legislation to be enacted are the Fiscal Management and Accountability (Amendment) Bill, to ensure that certain entities enjoy financial independence, to free them from executive interference with their budgetary allocations; the Constitutional Offices Commission Bill to periodically review salaries, pensions and other conditions for persons appointed to constitutional offices, including Members of the National Assembly; the Anti-Money-Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (Amendment) Bill to curb money-laundering and the contraband trade; the Telecommunications Bill, to provide a new regime for a liberalised and competitive telecommunications sector; the Public Utilities Commission (Amendment) Bill, to allow equal treatment to all investors in this sector and to ensure better quality service to consumers; the Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill to allow greater independence to the National Broadcasting Authority and to ensure standards of fairness, balance and accuracy on matters of public interest; and the Local Government (Amendment) Bill to allow the setting of the date for Local Government Elections, which were last held in 1994.
“Your Government will adhere to an empowerment policy that regularly renews local democracy by ensuring that Local Government Elections are held – as is stipulated in our Constitution. We shall fortify grassroots democracy by ensuring that local residents are allowed to play a greater role in managing their towns and villages.
“We shall introduce legislation to upgrade the four hinterland regional administrative centres – Bartica, Mahdia, Mabaruma and Lethem – to township status with their own mayors and town councils,” the President said.
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