THE real reason the Opposition wants to form a special committee to review maritime and outer islands development programs is because they want to collect more allowances.
This was the view expressed by Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum during a debate in Parliament yesterday.
“I was trying to think about the rationale as to why they are proposing this,” the A-G said in response to the motion put forward by Opposition member of Parliament Jese Saukuru.
“This Monday we had a meeting with all our assistant ministers and the backbenchers and they told us that at the committee level at this point in time, that the SODELPA members in the committees are rotating themselves.
“So they have two people sitting in one committee, after a few weeks, it changes because, apparently, they all want to, you know, get a cut in the allowances.
“That’s the problem, they are changing the committee members and as a result of this, the work of the committees are being stalled.
“That is the real reason behind this particular motion.”
Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said there was no need for a special committee to oversee or review maritime and outer islands development programs.
“Given the fact that all the good work by Government has been highlighted by the ministers, there is absolutely no need for this motion.”
The motion was defeated after 21 voted in favour and 27 against it while three abstained from voting.
