Extra ordinary sitting of Vanuatu Parliament on Monday

Vanuatu Parliament will convene today for the first extra ordinary sitting for 2016.

Notices sent to all members of parliament enlisted 12 bills for discussion in this session, most of which are amendments to the existing legislations.

They are the Bill for the Penal Code, Bill for the Right to Information Act, Bill for the Supplementary Appropriation, Bill for the Citizenship, Bill for the International Tax Cooperation Act, Bill for the Stamp Duties, Bill for the Utilities Regulatory Authority, Bill for the Commercial Government Business Enterprise, Bill for the International Companies, Bill for the Land Lease Act, Bill for the Paris Agreement Ratification and Bill for the Statue Law.

In his notice summoning Parliament for the extra ordinary sitting, Speaker Esmon Saimon scheduled the siting to end on 20 June, which is the beginning of the month-long recess period of parliament, according to the Standing Orders of Parliament. But the Speaker could also suspend Standing Orders of Parliament, upon approval of the House, to extend the sitting if more time is needed, in the case of urgency, to complete its business.

Also, the adjourned Special Parliament Session to debate government’s proposed constitutional changes is taking place this week, on Thursday 16th June.

It is anticipated that this Special Parliament Session would discuss and setup a Constitutional Review Committee to oversee the relevant process needed including consultations with various stakeholders and referendum for the constitutional changes.

Opposition has promised fireworks in parliament if discussions on the constitutional amendments are brought up for debate.

SOURCE: LOOP VANUATU