ST Anne’s MP Adrian White has accused the government of being late in bringing the COVID-19 Pandemic (Special Provision) Bill 2021 to Parliament.
The Bill was passed in the House of Assembly last Wednesday and in the Senate the following day.
In a statement released yesterday, Mr White said the timing of the Bill was “last minute” considering the fact the state of emergency and associated emergency orders were slated to end on November 13.
“On November 10, the late again government administration, who had wasted three previous sittings of the House, finally tabled the COVID-19 Pandemic (Special Provision) Bill, 2021 addressing local government, education, immigration and data protection,” his statement noted.
“The timing of tabling this Bill was last minute because the emergency orders were set to end on November 13, 2021 and it would normally take at least two days to get it through the House of Assembly before it could begin in the Senate.”
He said the opposition party “acted in the interests of the people and covered for the PLP government.”
“Under the Constitution’s Article 55, the House of Assembly Rules of Procedure, 2005, Rule 66 (3) and Rule 66 (2), there should be no second reading of a tabled item of legislation on the same day as its first reading, unless agreed by the House. “The House being both the members of government and of the opposition.
“Knowing the government would fail to get this piece of last-minute legislation through a second reading and full debate in the House and thereafter the Senate, before November 13, 2021, without the opposition’s agreement, the opposition, in the best interests of the nation, agreed to proceed with the second reading and a debate on the same day as its tabling and first reading.
“This act of co-operation by the opposition forgave the government of their inability to act in proper time. It was forgiveness exercised in the interests of the Bahamian people.”
Mr White also said while the emergency orders have expired, many of their provisions are still in place in the new Health Services Rules.
“Other aspects of the former emergency orders, like the provision on furloughed employees were not addressed and remain in place, until at least December 13, 2021.
“The government should see this as another of their teachable moments and not a precedent for future oversights in their management of the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on our people and our economy,” he said.
Comments
John 2 years, 5 months ago
‘ n Israel’s COVID-19 wards, doctors are learning which vaccinated patients are most vulnerable to severe illness, amid growing concerns about instances in which the shots provide less protection against the worst forms of the disease.
Around half of the country’s 600 patients presently hospitalized with severe illness have received two doses of the Pfizer Inc shot, a rare occurrence out of 5.4 million fully vaccinated people.
The majority of these patients received two vaccine doses at least five months ago, are over the age of 60 and also have chronic illnesses known to exacerbate a coronavirus infection. They range from diabetes to heart disease and lung ailments, as well as cancers and inflammatory diseases that are treated with immune-system suppressing drugs, according to Reuters interviews with 11 doctors, health specialists and officials.
Such “breakthrough” cases have become central to a global debate over whether highly vaccinated countries should give booster doses of COVID-19 vaccines, and to which people.’ SO THEY ARE FINDING that the vaccines ARE NOT OFFERING PROTECTION to certain groups of people and booster shots among this group are increasing the event of breakthrough cases. People still end up severely sick and in hospitals and still have a great chance of dying from Covid.
carltonr61 2 years, 5 months ago
Mr White should try running for leader as he is not yet inflicted with Toxic Minnisitis Covitisis Dorianitis a disease that brings lifelong unforgivable lasting memory of being spoken at like dogs while those elected to prince and serve wear unconscionable wired muzzles in trained obedience school.
JokeyJack 2 years, 5 months ago
So in other words the FNM assisted the ruling party to break the rules of the House in order to keep Minnis happy knowing you have to wear a mask. Not even a 7 day respite could be allowed aboard the slave ship.
JanetG 2 years, 5 months ago
Bahamians appear second in this read out: Other aspects of the former emergency orders, like the provision on furloughed employees were not addressed and remain in place, until at least December 13, 2021. Amid all parts of the emergency order provisions, why? Dissatisfactory🤔
JanetG 2 years, 5 months ago
Furloughed employees were thought to be a top concern of the emergency order, provision, yet they still gotta wait longer - after 18 months of employer protection.
The reform 2017 Employment Act clause for an Employer to either re-engage the employee/employment or sever their services and pay them off after 13 wks to 90 days temporary layoff, has already ran its course - off the cliff. Folks just want their money and to move on and start a new chapter, never to be caught up these crossfires again.
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