Parliament winds up 2009 business

PARLIAMENT - The Lower Chamber of Deputies yesterday concluded the 3rd session that began on October 5, with the Speaker of Parliament commending MP’s for the hard work exhibited in the last quarter of the parliamentary year. “First of all, I would like to thank you for the hard work and commitment you showed in the last quarter. I am proud to inform you that all the bills the Government sent here were dealt with. “There are some laws that are still before committees while some have been passed and sent to Senate. Others were sent for publication in the National Gazette and most of these concerned the economy and social welfare,” the Speaker, Rose Mukantabana, told the House. She further noted the Parliament endorsed important laws approving different agreements the government signed with donor and development partners and a law on public service which replaced the older law that was outdated and unfavourable to civil servants. She also cited as one the major achievements during this quarter, appearances by several ministers in the House to explain and give updates on some of the pending issues Among these, she hailed the Minister of East African Community who explained the status of the integration process and the then Minster of Natural resources, Vincent Karega, who convinced the house on the status of the Social Security Fund in Rwanda. Other highlights include the recent appearance by the Prime Minister to explain to the house the concerns highlighted by the 2007 Auditor General’s report and that of the Minister of Trade and Industry on issues of stray wild animals from Akagera National Park. “The resolutions from these two appearances will help government clear outstanding issues in the two areas,” Mukantabana told the house. Among the highlights of the 3rd quarter is report of the Commission for the Fight against the Genocide (CNLG), recognising the recommendation of the lawmakers to facilitate the Commission to fulfil its obligations. Also noted was the organisation of the African Women Parliamentarians (AWEPA) meeting in Rubavu and several delegations from Tanzania and Haiti hosted by the Committee on International Cooperation as well as the Amani Forum meeting on Gender Based Violence. Ends