Gun ban for debate

By HELEN TARAWA
PARLIAMENT is expected to debate a parliamentary committee report on gun ownership in the country when it sits from tomorrow.
Leader of Government Business and Finance Minister James Marape told The National yesterday the report of the parliamentary committee chaired by former Goroka MP Bire Kimisopa was one of the items on the agenda for the two-week session.
The agenda for Parliament will be finalised by Cabinet during its meeting today.
“Our agenda will be finalised in Cabinet tomorrow (today). Tentatively we will have all ministers presenting their department plans for the year,” he said.
“We will relook at the Kimisopa report on guns control with the view to banning guns and increasing penalties for offenders.”
Marape said he personally would want a total ban on guns, plus tough penalties for those who breached it.
“We will debate the ban on guns in parliament and decide on which course to take. But for me personally, I want a total ban on firearms in the hands of citizens,” Marape said.
Minister for Mining Johnson Tuke will also table amendments to the Mining Act.
Marape too will make a statement and release financial instructions based on the powers the finance minister has on the Public Finance Management Act.
“I will make a statement and release financial instruction based on powers the finance minister has on the PMF Act to restrict contracts limits under K10 million to national companies and between K10m to K30m to be an open bid,” he said.
“We will be sitting for two weeks. The government notice paper on Wednesday will list our full programme.”
Parliament rose on December 5 last year after unanimously passing the 2018 budget of K14.7 billion on voices.