Speaker of Somaliland parliament Mr Abdirahman Ero (centre) and 1st deputy Speaker Mr Abdi-aziz Samale (left) and 2nd deputy Speaker of parliament Mr Bashe Farah (right)

By somalilandtimes network

Hargeysa, February 18, 2006 – The leaders of Somaliland House of Representatives have criticized the extent of coverage given to the parliament by the local media as being low.

The Speaker of the House of Representatives Abdirahman Ero complained earlier this week that the Somaliland media was paying only a scant attention to the activities of the parliament. He accused the press of neglecting parliamentary news items such as the reports presented by the House Select Committees.

“The press must routinely provide the public with adequate information on the parliamentary process,” Mr Ero said while addressing members of the House on Tuesday.

In an interview with Haatuf newspaper later in the same day, the Speaker also defended a recent government procurement in which Mr. Ero and his two deputies were each supplied with a Land Cruizer vehicle. The procurement drew criticism from the public after the disclosure that it was awarded to a private businessman without bidding.

Somaliland House of Representatives in session (photo file)

However Mr. Ero, insisted that the purchase was done in accordance with the relevant standing rules and regulations. “The transaction was scrutinized by the Public Tenders Committee and the ministry of Public Works both of which are among the government institutions mandated to deal with procurements,” he said adding that since car dealers in Somaliland were not able to meet the specifications locally, the 3 vehicles had to be purchased from the United Arab Emirates.

Mr. Ero argued that it was within their right as members of the chair to acquire the vehicles as a mean of transportation.

Meanwhile the Public Tenders Committee has confirmed that it had been consulted with regard to the purchase of the 3 vehicles. “We had first put a limit on the cost that can be incurred and later verified that the vehicles supplied met the specifications,” said Hashi Musa, a member of the PTC.

Asked whether the quick approval of the requisition by the ministry of Finance, could be interpreted as a quid pro quo for Parliament leniency in controlling the government, the House Speaker responded saying that under no circumstances will the legislative leadership compromise its duties and responsibilities.

Source: Somaliland Times

Home | Contact us | Links | Archives