East African Legislative Assembly, Arusha, February 10th 2020: The East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) resumes its Sitting today as the 3rd Meeting of the 3rd Session commences in Arusha, Tanzania. The three-week Session which runs until February 29th, 2020, commences with Committee engagements prior to the actual Plenary Sitting. This morning, a Sub-Committee (on Finance and Administration) of the EALA Commission will meet before the Committee on Agriculture, Tourism and Natural Resources convenes in the afternoon.
Topping the agenda at the 3-week sitting is the debate and possible enactment of 3 key Bills, the EAC Customs Management (Amendment) Bill, 2019, the EAC Supplementary Appropriation Bill, 2020 and the EAC Lake Victoria Basin Commission Bill, 2019.
The object of the Customs Management (Amendment) Bill, 2019, moved by Hon Abdikadir Omar Aden, seeks to amend section 34 (5) of the existing Customs Management Act, 2014, to extend the time for removal of bulk containerized goods from the port(s) of discharge. At the moment, under the existing Act, the entry of cargo is required to be made within twenty-one days from the date of discharge of the vessel failing to which, the goods contained in the cargo begin to attract a charge or demurrage. Hon Aden, who was granted leave in October 2019 to introduce the Bill, avers that extending the time for removal of large consignments from the port of entry would eliminate demurrage charges and hence make goods more affordable and allow for longer storage period to facilitate clearance.
On its part, the object of the Lake Victoria Basin Commission Bill, 2019, is to provide for the Lake Victoria Basin Commission (LVBC) as an institution of the Community. The Bill which is moved by the Chair of the Council of Ministers, is premised on Chapter Nineteen of the Treaty for the Establishment of the East African Community, particularly Article 114, under which, the Partner States agreed to co-operate in the management of their water and marine resources, and specifically, to establish a body for the management of Lake Victoria. The Commission shall be responsible for among other duties, co-ordination of stakeholder participation in sustainable development natural resources of the Lake Victoria Basin, and the harmonization of policies, laws, regulations and standards concerning Lake Victoria Basin. Capacity building, institutional development, security and safety of navigation within Lake Victoria, are key components that the Bill shall provide for.
Other issues on the agenda for consideration at the EALA session, are a number of reports that emanate from workings of various Committees. The report of the Committee on Accounts on the EAC Audited Accounts for the FY 2017/2018, the Report of the Committee on Agriculture, Tourism and Natural Resources on the On-Spot Assessment of the activities of LVBC and that of the Committee on General Purpose on the EAC Annual Report: 2016/17 are expected to be debated. Other Reports that shall be dealt with at the Sitting, include the Report of the Committee on Legal, Rules and Privileges on the Review of the Rules of Procedure of the Assembly and the Report of the Committee on Communication, Trade and Investment on the One Network Area.
NOTE TO EDITORS ABOUT EALA
The East African Legislative Assembly is the Legislative Organ of the East African Community. Its Membership consists of a total of 62, of whom 54 are elected Members (9 from each Partner State) and eight ex-officio members (the Ministers responsible for EAC Affairs from the Partner States, the Secretary General of the Community and the Counsel to the Community).
The East African Legislative Assembly has legislative functions as well as oversight of all East African Community matters. The enactment of legislation of the Community is put in effect by means of Bills passed by the Assembly and assented to by the Heads of State, and every Bill that has been duly passed and assented to become an Act of the Community and takes precedent over similar legislations in the Partner States. EALA has to date passed 80 pieces of legislation.
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For more information, contact
Bobi Odiko, Senior Public Relations Officer, East African Legislative Assembly. Tel: +255-27-2508240 Fax: +255-27-2503103, Cell: +255-787-870945 +254-733-718036 Email: BOdiko@eachq.org, Web: https://www.eala.org
