Speaker Raphael Trotman yesterday proposed guidelines to preserve the National Assembly’s right to amend budget estimates, in the face of a recent court ruling that declared that its power is restricted to either giving or withholding approval.
Ahead of the start of the consideration of estimated spending, Trotman an-nounced his proposal for the establishment of a sub-committee of the Committee of Supply to consider changes to the budget.
“The purpose of this Committee will be to examine proposals for amendments and to find consensus or agreement where possible, and thereafter to report to the Committee of Supply,” the Speaker’s proposed guidelines, which were circulated in the House yesterday, state. “At the end of this exercise the Chairman of the Committee will put the question that the Estimates be reported to the National Assembly. The Hon Minister of Finance will report
