No time for time change
It seems that Namibians will still have winter time this year.
When the Namibian Time Bill was up for discussion yesterday in the National Assembly it was suggested that it should be referred to a parliamentary committee for further consultation.
This was seconded by the deputy minister of home affairs and immigration, Erastus Uutoni.
Committee phases usually take months. With the change to winter time taking place on the first Sunday in April, it is not likely that the committee will complete its task before then.
Even if the committee gives the bill the go-ahead before the first Sunday in April, it would still have to be debated in the National Council. The NC might then also assign a committee to investigate the bill, which would further delay the process.
The home affairs ministry conducted public consultations for three months on amending the Namibian Time Act of 1994. An overwhelming majority of Namibians elected to do away with a different time zone in winter.
A total of 3 096 people wanted the government to stick to summer time as the standard time, while a meagre 304 wanted both summer and winter time.
One of the main concerns was the safety of schoolchildren, especially those in rural and informal settlements who walk to and from school in the dark during winter.
Home affairs minister Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana said in her motivation for one standard time that schools could start later in winter. She also said that more input was expected from the education ministry on that.
“In light of the foregoing, a proposal was advanced that schools could start an hour later than the time they start now. On the other hand, others argued that both times should be maintained provided that winter time was applicable for three months only (June, July and August) and that schools should have four terms instead of three terms and that May should be made a school holiday,” said Iivula-Ithana.
Many Namibians who make use of public transport to and from work have also said that during winter it gets dark very early, making them vulnerable to robbery and other crimes while walking home.
Business owners argue that Namibia effectively loses four business hours a day in winter because the country's main trading partner, South Africa, is an hour out of step.
ESTELLE DE BRUYN
When the Namibian Time Bill was up for discussion yesterday in the National Assembly it was suggested that it should be referred to a parliamentary committee for further consultation.
This was seconded by the deputy minister of home affairs and immigration, Erastus Uutoni.
Committee phases usually take months. With the change to winter time taking place on the first Sunday in April, it is not likely that the committee will complete its task before then.
Even if the committee gives the bill the go-ahead before the first Sunday in April, it would still have to be debated in the National Council. The NC might then also assign a committee to investigate the bill, which would further delay the process.
The home affairs ministry conducted public consultations for three months on amending the Namibian Time Act of 1994. An overwhelming majority of Namibians elected to do away with a different time zone in winter.
A total of 3 096 people wanted the government to stick to summer time as the standard time, while a meagre 304 wanted both summer and winter time.
One of the main concerns was the safety of schoolchildren, especially those in rural and informal settlements who walk to and from school in the dark during winter.
Home affairs minister Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana said in her motivation for one standard time that schools could start later in winter. She also said that more input was expected from the education ministry on that.
“In light of the foregoing, a proposal was advanced that schools could start an hour later than the time they start now. On the other hand, others argued that both times should be maintained provided that winter time was applicable for three months only (June, July and August) and that schools should have four terms instead of three terms and that May should be made a school holiday,” said Iivula-Ithana.
Many Namibians who make use of public transport to and from work have also said that during winter it gets dark very early, making them vulnerable to robbery and other crimes while walking home.
Business owners argue that Namibia effectively loses four business hours a day in winter because the country's main trading partner, South Africa, is an hour out of step.
ESTELLE DE BRUYN
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