“Providing an additional medium outside of the Chamber for MPs to discuss bills will enhance the effectiveness of parliamentary sittings as MPs become more equipped to positively contribute to parliamentary debates on bills. Furthermore, it will enhance effective leadership and member accountability”
Parliament reconvened yesterday for its August session.
With the bulk of the morning taken up by traditional presentations from the constituency of the newest Cabinet Minister, Lautafi Fio Purcell, the first task for the House when it resumed was the announcement of bills to be debated during this session.
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According to the Clerk of the House, Fepulea’i Letufuga Ropati, the bills to be tabled and discussed during the next few days include:
• Public Finance Management Amendment Bill 2014 (Ministry of Finance)
• NPF Amendment Bill 2014 (National Provident Fund)
• Community Law Centre Bill 2014 (Ministry of Justice and Courts Administration)
Media Council Bill 2014 (Ministry of the Prime Minister and Cabinet)
• Customs Bill 2014 (Ministry for Revenue)
On Monday, Members of Parliament were given a briefing about the bills during the Legislative Assembly’s pre-sitting briefing.
According to a statement from Parliament, pre-sitting briefings were instituted in October 2012 with the aim of providing M.P.’s with the opportunity to familiarise themselves with bills prior to their introduction. “MPs are given detailed information by each Ministry responsible for the proposed bills as to its contents and objectives; it provides a forum for queries and clarification which was not previously available."
“This is one of the initiatives of the Samoa Parliamentary Support Project.”
The Project further believes that providing an additional medium outside of the Chamber for M.P’s to discuss bills will enhance the effectiveness of parliamentary sittings “as M.P’s become more equipped to positively contribute to parliamentary debates on bills.
“Furthermore, it will enhance effective leadership and member accountability.”
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