Contributing to the motion for debate Hon Hafsa Mossi, Chairperson of the Council of Ministers and Minister for EAC Affairs, Republic of Burundi, noted that the Council of Ministers needed more time to analyse critical issues arising from the Bill in its current form.
The Minister listed the areas of concern as inter alia the need to define clear mandate between the existing institutions notably the Lake Victoria Basin Commission and Lake Victoria Fisheries Organisation and the new commission (East African Trans-boundary Ecosystems Commission) envisaged by the Bill and the imminent conflict of the Bill with provisions of the Protocol of the Common Market dealing with land as areas that need more consultation.
“As the Council of Ministers, while affirming our total and unequivocal support for the Bill, we feel the concerns should be addressed,” Hon Mossi noted.
Earlier on, in his submissions, the mover of the Bill, Hon Dr George Nangale, termed the Bill if passed, a landmark law, that would address and provide for the management and regulation of transboundary ecosystems of the EAC.
The object of the Bill is to provide for a legal framework to effectively streamline the management of transboundary ecosystems with a view to enhancing the quality of the environment and also ensure sustainable utilization of shared natural resources in the EAC.
During debate, majority of Members supported the need to pass the Bill noting that it had taken several years. They said there were avenues for amendment that could be used to improve the Bill once passed.
The debate followed the 2nd reading of the Bill and the submission of the Report of the Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources on the Transboundary Ecosystems Bill presented by the Committee’s Chairperson. Hon. Safina Kwekwe.
Prior to that, four new Private Members’ Bills sailed through the first reading on the floor of the House and were referred to the relevant Committees. The Bills are:
- The East African Parliamentary Institute Bill (EAPI) 2011
- The East African Community Human and Peoples’ Right Bill 2011
- The East African Community Polythene Materials Control Bill 2011
- The East African Legislative Assembly Bill 2011
The EAC Human and Peoples Rights Bill 2011 on its part seeks to establish a regime to give effect for provisions of EAC human and peoples rights in accordance with the provisions of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights. The Bill further intends to foster the process of deepening and widening integration by guaranteeing human and peoples rights in the social, economic and political spheres.
The EAC Polythene Materials Control Bill 2011 in its memorandum terms polythene materials destructive to the environment and the habitat calling for control in the usage. It thus seeks to adopt common environmental regulations, incentives and standards and the use of biodegradable pesticides and packaging materials among others.
The EALA Bill 2011 aims to provide a framework for the laws, regulations and procedures relating to election of Members to the EALA and of matters incidental thereto.
Parliament continues tomorrow.
-END-
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 52, of whom 45 are elected Members (9 from each Partner State) and seven 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 effected 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 in June 2010 launched its Strategic Plan and Website at its 5th Meeting of the third Session held in Nairobi and Mombasa, Kenya respectively. The Strategic Plan is expected to go a long way to firmly entrench the EALA as the epitome of the Community’s democracy and unity. The EALA website www.eala.org provides the Assembly with the means to communicate actively with the citizens of East Africa and beyond and enhances public understanding of the legislature’s role and responsibilities.
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
