SERUIRATU FIRMS UP DATE FOR NATIONAL BUDGET REPORT

The Budget announcement for the financial year 2O19 to 2O2O will take place on June 7, 2O19.

This was confirmed in Parliament yesterday by the Leader of Government Inia Seruiratu.

The budget address was initially scheduled to take place on June 31. However, amendments were made to the April to November sitting calendar by the Parliamentary Business Committee. This was endorsed and passed yesterday following a vote, 44 yes, two no and five did not vote.

Mr Seruiratu said the reasons for the amendments was to accommodate the work load that the various committees had to undertake.

After the budget announcement on June 7th parliamentarians will take a weeklong break before Parliament convenes on June 17-21 to debate on the National Budget.

“It has been raised by the Government whip during the business committee meeting that most of the committees are finding it difficult to cope with the amount of work,” he said.

Other changes to the Parliament sitting calendar include the removal of the March and July sitting dates which was scheduled to take place on March 11-15 and July 15-19.

August sitting dates has been moved forward to take place from 5th to the 9th instead of 12-16.

Mr Seruiratu said this was to accommodate the Pacific Islands Forum that will take place on August 12th. The rest of the sitting calendar remains the same.

FONUA TALEI Edited by Percy Kean