Parliament voted 37-13 today to extend by an additional six months regulations without enabling or parent legislation when the new constitution was ratified.
Over 80 regulations and procedural rules in place when the new constitution was ratified in August 2008 has been extended annually since then until enabling legislation – such as a Criminal Procedures Act, a revised Penal Code and a Drug Bill in committee since 2009 – could be passed. The previous extension approved in August 2010 was due to expire on August 5 this year.
Under the motion passed today, the parliamentary Rules Committee will be tasked with supervising the finalisation and passage of the required legislation within the proposed six months period.
