On Friday we had lots of news form the House Meeting - but not much of the actual business of the house. And that's because there wasn't much to cover. Indeed, at a shade over two hours, it was one of the shortest house meetings in memory.
For the government, the main business was a Bill to amend the town councils act to make provision for greater autonomy for funds for capital projects. It's a way to allow the San Ignacio Town Council to raise a private loan for its new town council. But the leader of the opposition was doubtful:...
Hon. John Briceno - Leader of the opposition
"But the question I ask is why is it that the council will have, could or may establish companies under the company's act as they said subject to section 1 "the council may establish companies under the company's act to raise funds for infrastructural projects" and I asked myself why is it that we need to be able to allow them to be able to setup these companies?"
Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow - Prime Minister
"What does the bill do? It confers greater autonomy on all the town councils. As the law now stands, the 2 city councils are able to do. What we are saying all town councils should be able to do. So this is a blow for equality. It is a blow for greater autonomy. It is a blow for capacity building. So I don't know how given all 3 of those considerations the Leader of the Opposition can have any difficulty. The reason for wanting to pass it all at once today is simple. The San Ignacio/Santa Elena Town Council is in the process of constructing a new town hall."
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