AFTER four days of debate and scrutiny, the 11th Parliament yesterday finally passed the 2024 Appropriation Bill 2023 worth more than $4.21 billion.
The Bill since Monday was tabled by the Minister of Finance and Treasury Harry Kuma.
After the first and second reading, the Bill went through the Committee of Supply with amendment over the past days.
Yesterday it went through the final scrutiny at the committee stage and then the third and final reading.
It then got the full support of the Whole House and thus, successfully passed.
There was an uproar of claps from the Members of Parliament (MP) after the Bill got through and passed just around 1pm yesterday.
The 2024 Appropriation Bill 2023 came before Parliament on Monday seeking Parliamentary approval for four billion, two hundred and nine million, nine hundred million, nine hundred and eighteen thousand and one hundred and fifty-eight dollars ($4, 209, 918, 158) to the service of the financial year ending 31 December 2024.
Most of the current MPs only have about three weeks left before their term lapses on 31st December 2023 when the present 11th Parliament will be dissolved.
Government will then go into caretaker mode as of January 1st until the next National General Election is held in April 2024.
By MOFFAT MAMU
