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{
"id": 305345,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/305345/?format=api",
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"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Maj. Sugow",
"speaker_title": "The Assistant Minister, Ministry of State for Public Service",
"speaker": {
"id": 142,
"legal_name": "Aden Ahmed Sugow",
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"content": " Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I would like to take this opportunity to support this Bill and thank hon. Mungatana. As my sister has indicated, this Bill is long overdue. Coconut is one of the oldest crops in this country, and it is not any less important if given the right foundation in law, just like coffee or tea. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, the one thing that is clear in this country is that there have been quite a number of areas where regional products that are predominant and have great value not only to the region where they are but the country, have been neglected for a long time. Therefore, I would like to take this opportunity to look forward and thank hon. Mungatana because the crop has been neglected for all this time. He used a very conciliatory tone when he was moving this Bill. He did not apportion any blame for the past. In fact, he thanked the President for issuing an Executive Order to give the regulation that exists currently. Both sides of this House should support this Bill. It is not only for the interest of the Coast Province, but for this country. We have clearly indicated the tentative amounts that this country can get out of this particular industry and I believe that with more investments, we can double, triple or even quadruple the amount. With research and the development of good fast maturing varieties, we can make a lot of money. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, having said this, it is very important for us, as Members of Parliament, at this point in time, especially when we are going to elections, to avoid making statements on the Floor of the House that touch on the nerve or the sensitivity of issues that are prevailing in the public domain. On the matter raised by hon. Odhiambo-Mabona - unfortunately she is not in the House- regarding the lack of presence on the part of the Government to discuss this matter, the lack of presence on this side of the House does not, in any way, indicate the seriousness or lack of it on the part of the Government with regard to this Bill. Therefore, to bring the MRC issue on the Floor of the House was uncalled for because this is a national issue. It is a very important Bill and we need collective appeal to all sides to ensure that it is passed, but not to try and apportion blame. In any case, this Government has already put some mechanisms in place to regulate it. You would not expect them to oppose this Bill. Therefore, before we judge the Government, let us wait for the Presidential assent or lack of one, so that we can say that the Government is not serious. This Bill addresses a sector that is of serious economic value to this country and not only to the Coast region alone. Therefore, it behooves all of us, as leaders, to support"
}