ESP audit report yet to be debated; new related reports tabled
By Loretta B Manele
The much talked about Economic Stimulus Package (ESP) audit report is yet to be debated on and new related reports were brought to parliament on Friday last week.
Parliament’s recent sitting earlier this month on November 4 had Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele move a special adjournment for parliament to resume on Friday Nov 15 purposely to allow Leader of Opposition, Matthew Wale to move motion No 8 which stands in his name and is a motion for parliament to resolve into a committee of the whole house to consider the Audit Report on the Economic Stimulus Package.
On Friday, Nov 15, Manele said this was because the report has generated much public debate and our constituencies were also beneficiaries as well.
He stated that the ESP audit report is one of public interest hence the reason why he moved the motion of special adjournment on Nov 4 for parliament to resume on Friday Nov 15 the day in which the Leader of Opposition can move his motion because it cannot be done on government business days which are Mondays to Thursdays.
“Unfortunately, parliament cannot consider this report today because the Leader of Opposition did not move the motion which stands in his name to enable parliament to debate it.”
Manele said he understands from the Leader of Opposition that the parliamentary house committee decided to defer consideration of the ESP report as well as for PAC to examine the audit report.
Meanwhile, he added a number of reports from the minister of finance and treasury that are related to the ESP report were also presented in parliament so that may also need some time for deliberation.
Manele voiced that as a government, they are keen to look at these reports so our people have the opportunity to hear about it from both sides of the house.
Apart from reports received from the minister of finance and treasury, two reports from the minister for mines, energy and rural electrification were also tabled in parliament on Friday, Nov 15.
