The Chairman of the Bills and Legislation Committee, Hon. John Maneniaru, has strongly defended the integrity and mandate of the Committee following what he described as misguided criticism from Government members during the debate on the Special Economic Zones (SEZ) Bill.
Hon. Maneniaru expressed disappointment that some interventions appeared to disregard or misunderstand the BLC’s role under Standing Order 71, which mandates the Committee to scrutinize and review draft legislation on behalf of Parliament.
“It was discouraging to hear accusations that the BLC is playing politics. With the greatest respect, the BLC often conducts more thorough scrutiny of Government bills than some of its own ministers. The Committee works diligently to ensure that Government bills serve the national interest and benefit our people,” Hon. Maneniaru stated.
The MP for West Are’Are emphasized that the BLC functions as an extension of Parliament and plays a vital role in strengthening legislation through detailed and independent review.
“Having spent considerable time examining the SEZ Bill, it is clear that some of the criticisms levelled against the committee were based on assumptions. I urge all members to read the Bills carefully. This will ensure that their contributions are informed and constructive,” Hon. Maneniaru added.
Hon. Maneniaru concluded by thanking his fellow committee members for their professionalism and called on the Government to support the BLC’s critical role in helping improve the quality of legislation brought before Parliament.
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[Source: Office of the Leader of the Opposition Press]
