EAC PRESS RELEASE

EAST AFRICAN LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY

PRESS RELEASE

 

3^rd EALA NOT DISSOLVED: THE CORRECT POSITION OF THE SINE DIE ADJOURNMENT OF THE EALA SITTING ON APRIL 1, 2014  

East African Legislative Assembly, Arusha, Tanzania, April 3, 2014: Following the Proceedings of the 55^th Sitting of the East African Legislative Assembly held on Tuesday 1^st April, 2014, the Rt. Hon. Speaker adjourned the House Sine Die (indefinitely). In some circles, this has been wrongly interpreted to mean that the Speaker rendered the Assembly non-functional.

  That the adjournment of the House Sine Die brought the Assembly to a close or would lead to a disruption of other business, until such a time when the Speaker rescinds that decision.

 In light of the above, this is to clarify that the reference sine die, as time made by the Speaker, was for the adjournment of the Sittings of the House. It meant that the Sittings of the House have been put on a hold without assigning a specific day, time and place when the Sittings shall resume or when the House reconvenes/assembles again.

 It did not therefore, in any way, dissolve or purport to dissolve the Assembly or to discontinue the Assembly’s Legislative Calendar. Its application will therefore be limited to the remainder of the Sittings of the 5^th Meeting of the 2^nd Session of the 3^rd Assembly up to the time when the House is reconvened before the 6^th meeting of the 2^nd Session of the 3^rd Assembly or when it shall formally be reconvened for the 6^th Meeting of the 2^nd Session of the 3^rd Assembly.

 Further, the ruling does not in any way stop the Assembly Committees and other EALA activities from functioning or being implemented as the case may be. These are expected to continue as per the EALA Legislative Calendar and the office of the Clerk is mandated to execute the Calendar.

 In the circumstances, and prior to the 6^th Meeting of the 2^nd Session of the 3^rd Assembly, unless formally convened under the provisions of the Rules, there shall be no sittings of the House for the remainder of the 5^th Meeting.

 -It has also been rumoured in some circles that the ruling of the Speaker has brought to an abrupt end the term of the 3^rd Assembly. This is not true!

 In light of the above, we clarify that Questions regarding the dissolution of the Assembly are premised under Rule 86 of the EALA Rules of Procedure and is invoked at the expiry of the 5 year term of the Assembly through a proclamation by the Heads of State or Governments of the Partner States. It is therefore, not true that the 3^rd Assembly was dissolved by the adjournment Sine Die.

 

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