House of Assembly convenes today

15/04/2024

By Office of the Parliament

A Sitting of the House of Assembly is scheduled for Tuesday, April 16, with Papers to be laid by the Honourable Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Economic Development, Youth Economy, Justice and National Security; the Honourable Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Tourism, Investment, Creative Industries, Culture and Information; the Honourable Minister for Commerce, Manufacturing, Business Development, Cooperatives and Consumer Affairs; and the Senior Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Ports, Transport, Physical Development and Urban Renewal.

The Motions for consideration are as follows:

1. BE IT RESOLVED that Parliament authorizes the Minister of Finance to establish a special fund to be known as the Regulated Substances Fund for the purpose of facilitating the operations of the Regulated Substances Authority;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that —

(a) the source and monies to be paid into the Fund comprises –

(i) the sums allocated by Parliament,
(ii) the grants received by the Ministry responsible for commerce in relation to regulated substances,
(iii) the fees charged under the Regulated Substances Act,
No. 26 of 2023 or another enactment relating to regulated substances,
(iv) any levy imposed under the Regulated Substances Act, No. 26 of 2023 or another enactment relating to regulated substances,
(v) all other sums that may become payable to or vested in the Ministry responsible for commerce in respect of matters incidental to its powers and duties under the Regulated Substances Act, No. 26 of 2023 or another enactment relating to regulated substances;

(b) in accordance with section 23(2) and (3) of the Act -

(i) the accounting officer administering the Fund shall, within a period of one month after the end of the financial year, prepare, sign and submit to the Accountant General statements showing the financial position of the Fund at the end of the financial year,
(ii) the statements under subparagraph (i) must include –
- (A) a statement of the assets and liabilities of the Fund;
- (B) a detailed statement of receipts and payments of the Fund; and
- (C) a statement of investments and interest or dividends credited to the Fund;

(d) the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry responsible for commerce is the accounting officer who is responsible for administering the Fund;

(e) the Fund must be maintained, unless –

(i) it is closed by the Minister of Finance under Section 24 of the Act where the Minister of Finance receives a report from the Permanent Secretary of the Department of Finance to indicate that the purpose for which the Fund was established has been fulfilled; or no longer exists and, in the opinion of the Minister, there is no likelihood that a purpose for which the Fund could lawfully be used will arise in the future, or
(ii) the terms specified in this Resolution for the Fund has expired.

2. BE IT RESOLVED that Parliament by affirmative resolution approves the draft Value Added Tax (Amendment of Schedule 2) Order which amends Schedule 2 of the Act –

(a) In item 1, to include the following new definitions –

“Cricket West Indies” means Cricket West Indies Inc., a company incorporated under the laws of the British Virgin Islands;

“International Cricket Council” means the International Cricket Council, a company limited by guarantee and incorporated in the British Virgin Islands;

“International Business Corporation” means ICC Business Corporation FZ LLC, a company incorporated under the regulations of the Dubai Development Authority;”

(b) to include as an exempt supply, for a period commencing from the 1st day of April, 2024 and ending on the 31st day of July, 2024, a supply by Cricket West Indies and the International Cricket Council, its subsidiaries and associates, including the International Business Corporation for Cricket World Cup 2024 of the following goods and services –

(i) a supply of stationery,
(ii) a supply of signage,
(iii) supply of promotional materials, including, flyers and clothing,
(iv) a supply of local transportation of cargo,
(v) a supply of routers and walkie-talkies,
(vi) a supply of printing supplies,
(vii) a supply of hardware and building supplies,
(viii) a supply of accommodation,
(ix) a supply of telecommunication services,
(x) a supply of laundry services,
(xi) a supply of cleaning services,
(xii) a supply of catering services,
(xiii) a supply of security services.

3. BE IT RESOLVED that Parliament by affirmative resolution approves the draft Value Added Tax (Amendment of Schedule 3) Order which amends Schedule 3 of the Act to include, as an exempt import —

(a) the import of goods and services by the Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company PJSC Masdar for the development, building and commissioning of a solar photovoltaic carport and solar street lights at the project site located at the Hewanorra International Airport; and

(b) for a period commencing from the 1st day of April, 2024 and ending on the 31st day of July, 2024, the import by the Cricket West Indies and the International Cricket Council, its subsidiaries and associates, including the International Business Corporation for Cricket World Cup 2024, of the following goods and services —

(a) stationery;
(b) signage;
(c) promotional materials, including flyers and clothing;
(d) supplies for local transportation of cargo;
(e) routers and walki-talkies;
(f) printing supplies;
(g) hardware and building supplies;
(h) telecommunication services;
(i) security services.

The following Bill is down for consideration:

Tuesday’s Sitting is scheduled to commence at 10:00a.m. A subsequent Sitting of the Senate is scheduled for Thursday, April 18, at 10 a.m.