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{
    "id": 822674,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/822674/?format=api",
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    "content": "there under more convenient circumstances. I listened to the distinguished Senator, Sen. (Dr.) Zani, and also the Mover, the Majority Leader. It was quite a lengthy presentation which was justified. Just listening to his presentation and the passion with which he presented this Bill, I said to myself that he must have prepared himself well, but he is normally quite articulate. Therefore, it is both in terms of his personal ability but, secondly, I think he did quite a bit of presentation. Madam Temporary Speaker, this is a very important Bill which talks to a very important sector especially in an area that matters. The economy of the country and anywhere in the world revolves around the energy sector now. There is a lot of debate on issues related to energy. There is even more of it in the First World, where with the awareness about climate change, the debate as to whether or not we need clean energy or the economic interest of a nation override the consideration of the environment. Those are things that should have had some bearing and reflection in this Bill. The current debate about energy is important, and I do not see a reflection of that in this Bill. Hopefully, during the Committee stage, we may be able to add or subtract what is already in the Bill. One of the important criticisms I have of this Bill is the power given to the Cabinet Secretary. When we do these things, we forget about powers of Cabinet Secretaries. The accountability of the Cabinet Secretaries to the general public is not the same as when Ministers were Members of Parliament. They are accountable largely to the President and do their work in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution. Parliament oversights the Cabinet Secretaries, but overall, looking at this Bill and knowing what is happening in other regimes of the law where power is completely vested in one entity, it becomes a very dangerous kind of situation. I have been lost in the presentation of this Bill. If you look at Part II of the Bill on energy policy and integrated energy plan, Clause 4 states that the Cabinet Secretary shall, in consultation with the relevant stakeholders--- Who are these relevant stakeholders? They are not defined in the Bill in terms of the energy policy and integrated energy plan. Even in some constitutional bodies, when it comes to stakeholders, they are mobilized to fit an occasion for a fee or reach some kind of legal requirement, without giving the members of the public and stakeholders some clout and degree of authority in the formulation of the energy policy and plan. This is something that we need to be derived from these stakeholders; not just in consultation with the Cabinet Secretary, but working with the Cabinet Secretary. This energy policy and plan should be subject to approval by Parliament because this is an area where resources will be spent and investments made. Therefore, when it is made every five years and the Cabinet Secretary is the one to regulate--- It does not say that he is responsible to the Cabinet in carrying out these duties or to the President; the power is with the Cabinet Secretary. I would suggest that, at the appropriate time, there should be an amendment to this section so that the powers to the Cabinet Secretary are tempered to some extent. This will enable the Cabinet Secretary, through a mechanism that can be defined in the Bill or in the regulations, to come and justify what has become the policy and plan, and then approved by Parliament. The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes only. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate."
}