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The APNU+AFC Parliamentary Opposition has requested a meeting with the consultant who is currently engaged in the development of the portal for the Planning and Development Single Window System bill.
The bill, which was presented by Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal on Monday, aims to establish a single window electronic processing system to increase business efficiency, as the housing and construction industries are expanding rapidly. The bill also seeks to provide for the establishment of the Planning Oversight Committee, to define the functions of the committee, to centralise functions relating to land use preparation and development and for matters associated with it.
In a letter addressed to Minister Croal, Opposition Chief Whip Christopher Jones said that during their own consultations on the proposed bill, a number of concerns have been raised by citizens for which answers are needed. He said that it is their hope that these can be discussed with the consultant prior to the Second Reading of the bill.
The letter was copied to Prime Ministerial Representative Gail Teixeira, Minister within the Ministry of Housing and Water Susan Rodrigues, Speaker of the National Assembly Manzoor Nadir and Clerk of the National Assembly Sherlock Isaacs.
The Opposition has previously expressed reservations about the bill, saying that it could lead to corruption and abuse of power. The Opposition has also accused the government of rushing the bill without adequate consultation and scrutiny.
The government, however, has defended the bill, saying that it is part of its efforts to create a business-friendly environment and improve the ease of doing business through an electronic portal that allows investors to submit planning and building permits, and check the status of the permits from anywhere in the world.
The government has also said that extensive consultations were held with the relevant stakeholders, including the local Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs), heads of service agencies and regulatory bodies.
The bill is expected to be debated at a later date in the National Assembly.
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