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"content": "So, indeed, as the draft is currently, the current local authorities will exist. Mr. Speaker, Sir, let me then go to another controversial issue which has generated a lot of debate â that is Article 29 on new appointments. Article 29 says: âThe process of appointment of persons to fill vacancies arising in consequence of the coming into force of this Constitution shall begin on the effective date and be finalized within one year. â Further, in (2): âUnless this schedule prescribes otherwise, when this Constitution requires an appointment to be made by the President with the approval of the National Assembly, until after the first election under this Constitution, the President shall, subject to the National Accord and Reconciliation Act, appoint a person after consultation with the Prime Minister and with the approval of the National Assembly.â Mr. Speaker, Sir, indeed, let me point out that this format was set up by the Parliamentary Select Committee, and not by the Committee of Experts (CoE). The proposal from the CoE was based on a hybrid system of Government, where it was, indeed, the Prime Minister who was making these appointments with the concurrence of the President and the approval of the National Assembly. Our instructions to our drafters were: Change that to fit into the new system of the Executive we had crafted, which was a Presidential system, but save the National Accord for the life of this Parliament. That is, indeed, what is there; the National Accord is saved for the life of Parliament while we have the President making those appointments instead of the Prime Minister. Mr. Speaker, Sir, allow me to refer to one final point of controversy, which is Article 26 of the draft Constitution. That article is on the Rights and Fundamental Freedoms and the Right to Life. Article 26 states: â(1) every person has the right to life (2) The life of a person begins at conception; (3) A person shall not be deprived of life intentionally, except to the extent authorized by this Constitution or other written law; (4) Abortion is not permitted.â Let me repeat: (4) Abortion is not permitted unless, in the opinion of a trained health professional, there is need for emergency treatment or the life or health of the mother is in danger or if permitted by any other written law.â Mr. Speaker, Sir, this, again, was the framing that was proposed by the Parliamentary Select Committee. Indeed, we brought in the issue of the life of the person beginning at conception because of the very strong push from a huge sector of our community to have that as part of our Constitution. Indeed, the Constitution, being a living organism, has to take on board the needs of a majority of our populace, and that is the reason why that proposal was put in. It was not put in by the CoE; it was put in by the Parliamentary Select Committee and adopted by the CoE. But, we all, indeed, agree that time would arrive when an exception needs to be created for that article, hence the need for parts (3) and (4) â part (3) dealing with capital offences and part (4) dealing with emergencies or health issues that might require abortion. So, to say that the draft legalizes"
}