The APNU+AFC government is moving to change the composition of key oversight parliamentary committees to reflect its majority.
As separate opposition forces that controlled the last Parliament, APNU and AFC had in 2012 changed the composition of the four sectoral committees to reflect their majority. As a result, they amended the Standing Orders to cater for each sectoral committee to comprise three members of the then minority PPP/C government and four members of the opposition.
Now in government with a majority, the APNU+AFC alliance is seeking to reverse the change.
To this end, a motion is to be moved at next Thursday’s sitting of the National Assembly by Minister of Social Cohesion Amna Ally.
The motion seeks to amend Standing Order No. 86(2), which now provides that each Sectoral Committee shall consist of seven members, comprising three representing the government and four the opposition, respectively.
It notes that in 11th Parliament, the government is in the majority and the opposition in the minority and Standing Order No. 86(2) does not represent “the new majority reality.”
As a result, the motion proposes that Standing Order No. 86(2) be amended to read that representation on the Sectoral Committees should be calculated in accordance with the seat allocation to the political parties in Parliament, and that, “each Committee shall consist of seven (7) Members, four (4) representing the Government and three (3) representing the Opposition, to be nominated by the Committee of Selection.”
In 2013, provisions were made for parliamentary sectoral committees on natural resources, social services, economic services and foreign affairs based on a recommendation made by the Constitutional Reform Commission.
The committees are charged with examining all policies and administration for their respective sector to determine whether their implementation is in consonance with the principles of good governance and in the best interest of the people.
They can also review existing legislation on government policy and administration for their respective sector, make recommendations to the National Assembly on legislation or any other action to be taken or matters falling within their purview. They can also visit any government activity or project, summon persons to give evidence as well as scrutinise government records.
