Time change: We did our bit, says Home Affairs
The home affairs ministry says other ministries and government offices never responded to its request for input on the Namibian Time Bill.
The Ministry of Home Affairs says it did all it could to facilitate consultation on the Namibian Time Bill, but there was little feedback from key ministries and government offices.
The ministry was summoned by the National Assembly's standing committee on foreign affairs, defence and security to explain what had happened during the protracted consultation process, which left parliamentarians divided over whether the law providing for winter and summer time should be repealed.
The permanent secretary of the home affairs ministry, Patrick Nandago, told the standing committee that input had been sought from major stakeholders, which included 10 ministries, all 14 governors, other government institutions, civil society organisations and the public.
The ministries approached for input were the Ministry of Higher Education, Training and Innovation, Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare, Ministry of Health and Social Services, Ministry of Safety and Security, and the Ministry of Labour, Industrial Relations and Employment Creation.
Letters calling for input were also sent to the Office of the Attorney-General and the Inspector-General of the Namibian Police.
Only the labour ministry and the offices of the attorney-general and the inspector-general responded. The AG's office included an opinion from the Law Society of Namibia and regional police commanders gave their input.
The rest remained silent despite the fact that all the ministers are in the cabinet, which had given the home affairs ministry the mandate to engage in wider consultations on the Time Bill.
Nandago said only three governors – from Oshana, Erongo and Otjozondjupa – sent their comments.
“There was the expectation that responsible ministries would escalate consultations. If this was not done, someone, somewhere was not doing his or her work but the Ministry of Home Affairs has done what it was supposed to do,” said Nandago.
He said it was also hoped that governors would have convened meetings in their respective regions, but for the most part that did not happen.
“That is how some of our people are doing business,” said Nandago wryly.
He denied claims that the letters from the home affairs ministry seeking input had been set out at the last minute.
The ministry had written to Cabinet on 16 September 2015 to ask permission to conduct public consultations on the Time Bill after local businesses and sports clubs requested a standard winter and summer time.
Cabinet approved the request on 6 October 2015 and letters seeking comment from government and other institutions were sent out in December 2015. All were requested to comment by February 2016.
Civil society organisations such as the Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCI), the Namibia Sports Commission, the Namibia Schools Sport Union and the Council of Churches were also asked for input. None of them responded.
Although Unam and NUST responded, they did not provide scholarly views on the proposed time change, as had been requested, said Nandago.
The Electricity Control Board (ECB) and the Roman Catholic Church sent in comments.
Notices were published in newspapers inviting the public to comment. More than 3 500 comments were received and the overwhelming sentiment, more than 80%, was that the winter and summer times should be disposed of.
Nandago said the cabinet had been properly briefed on the responses, after which home affairs minister Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana went ahead with discussions with the AG, Sackey Shanghala, for the drafting of the new Time Bill.
CATHERINE SASMAN
The ministry was summoned by the National Assembly's standing committee on foreign affairs, defence and security to explain what had happened during the protracted consultation process, which left parliamentarians divided over whether the law providing for winter and summer time should be repealed.
The permanent secretary of the home affairs ministry, Patrick Nandago, told the standing committee that input had been sought from major stakeholders, which included 10 ministries, all 14 governors, other government institutions, civil society organisations and the public.
The ministries approached for input were the Ministry of Higher Education, Training and Innovation, Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare, Ministry of Health and Social Services, Ministry of Safety and Security, and the Ministry of Labour, Industrial Relations and Employment Creation.
Letters calling for input were also sent to the Office of the Attorney-General and the Inspector-General of the Namibian Police.
Only the labour ministry and the offices of the attorney-general and the inspector-general responded. The AG's office included an opinion from the Law Society of Namibia and regional police commanders gave their input.
The rest remained silent despite the fact that all the ministers are in the cabinet, which had given the home affairs ministry the mandate to engage in wider consultations on the Time Bill.
Nandago said only three governors – from Oshana, Erongo and Otjozondjupa – sent their comments.
“There was the expectation that responsible ministries would escalate consultations. If this was not done, someone, somewhere was not doing his or her work but the Ministry of Home Affairs has done what it was supposed to do,” said Nandago.
He said it was also hoped that governors would have convened meetings in their respective regions, but for the most part that did not happen.
“That is how some of our people are doing business,” said Nandago wryly.
He denied claims that the letters from the home affairs ministry seeking input had been set out at the last minute.
The ministry had written to Cabinet on 16 September 2015 to ask permission to conduct public consultations on the Time Bill after local businesses and sports clubs requested a standard winter and summer time.
Cabinet approved the request on 6 October 2015 and letters seeking comment from government and other institutions were sent out in December 2015. All were requested to comment by February 2016.
Civil society organisations such as the Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCI), the Namibia Sports Commission, the Namibia Schools Sport Union and the Council of Churches were also asked for input. None of them responded.
Although Unam and NUST responded, they did not provide scholarly views on the proposed time change, as had been requested, said Nandago.
The Electricity Control Board (ECB) and the Roman Catholic Church sent in comments.
Notices were published in newspapers inviting the public to comment. More than 3 500 comments were received and the overwhelming sentiment, more than 80%, was that the winter and summer times should be disposed of.
Nandago said the cabinet had been properly briefed on the responses, after which home affairs minister Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana went ahead with discussions with the AG, Sackey Shanghala, for the drafting of the new Time Bill.
CATHERINE SASMAN
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