OP this week in Parliament - Q & A

source: Republic of Botswana (16/12/08): TAUTONA TIMES no 41 of 2008
The Weekly Electronic Press Circular of the Office of the President "Democracy, Development, Dignity and Discipline"

D. OP THIS WEEK IN PARLIAMENT - Q & A

Responses to Questions in Parliament by the Hon. Ministers for Presidential Affairs and Public Administration and Defence, Justice and Security

I. Questions answered in Parliament by the Minister for Presidential Affairs and Public Administration, the Hon. Daniel Kwelagobe:

D1) 12/12/08: QUESTION NO 248 ASKED BY HON. A. MAGAMA, MP (GABORONE
SOUTH)

To ask the Minister for Presidential Affairs and Public Administration to state the total amount of money spent by President Khama and his entourage when the President attended the meeting of the Board of Conservation International in the United States of America, inclusive of aviation fuel costs and landing fees.

ANSWER

Mr. Speaker, the total amount of money spent by his Excellency the President, Lt. Gen. Seretse Khama Ian Khama and his entourage to attend the meeting of the Board of Conservation International in the United States of America is P1 361 321.44. This amount is broken down as
follows:

* P342 756.59 (25.18%) for per diem payments
* P898 174.00 (65.98%) for aviation fuel
* P89 277.25 (6.56%) for landing fees, catering, airport and handling charges; and
* P31 113.60 (2.29%) for air tickets.

Mr. Speaker, the main objective of Conservation International is to address urgent environmental threats as well as long term health of the Earths' most vital land and marine ecosystems. It works with 40 countries in Latin America, Africa, Asia and the Pacific, targeting unique and sensitive places such as:

* Priority marine areas;
* Biodiversity hotspots;
* Earths' biologically rich and most threatened places; and
* High-biodiversity wilderness areas (vast regions of relatively undisturbed land that are home to many species found nowhere else).

I thank you, Mr. Speaker.

D2) 12/12/08: QUESTION NO 246 ASKED BY HON. A. MAGAMA MP (GABORONE
SOUTH)

To ask the Minister for Presidential Affairs and Public Administration whether all Economists in the Public Service are eligible for the 30% Scarce Skills/Retention Allowance as per Presidential Directive Cab 8
(A) of 13 March 2008; and if the answer is in the affirmative, the Minister should say why Economists in the Ministry of Agriculture are not paid Scarce Skills Allowance.

ANSWER:

Mr. Speaker, mot all Economists in the Public Service are eligible for the 30% Scarce Skills/Retention Allowance as per Presidential Directive CAB 8 (A) of 13 March 2008. To be eligible for the allowance, officers must possess appropriate qualifications, and should be performing the functions or duties of the Scarce Skill Occupation.

Mr. Speaker, the Economists in the Ministry of Agriculture who perform functions or duties that fall under the Scarce Skills Occupation are paid Scarce Skills Allowance, and the Economists who do not perform functions or duties that fall under Scarce Skills Occupation are not paid Scarce Skills Allowance. I thank you, Mr. Speaker.

II. Questions Answered by the Minister for Defence Justice and Security, the Hon. Dikgakgamatso Seretse:

D3) 8/12/08: QUESTION NO 235 (5) ASKED BY HON. P.P.P MOATLHODI, MP. (TONOTA SOUTH)

To ask the Minister for Defence, Justice and Security whether while addressing some members of the discipline forces at Special Support Group (SSG) in Gaborone recently, he had shed some light to the effect that some senior staff members of Botswana Local Government Police shall be forced to retire when the merger begins and if so;

* Is the aim of the merger to scale down on senior staff members of Botswana Local Government Police, if not why did the Minister say so; and
* What other benefits are expected to flow from the merger

ANSWER:

Mr. Speaker, I would like to confirm that indeed I addressed members of the Botswana Police Service at the SSG Bandwing Hall on the 20th October 2008.

I can also confirm that I did shed some light on the impending Botswana Police Service/Local Police merger, and to this effect alluded to the fact that those members of the Local Police Service that will be absorbed into the Botswana Police Service will have to satisfy set entry standards. The standards will be agreed ahead of the merger.

Mr. Speaker, it is not true that I said the merger was to scale down on senior staff members of the Botswana Local Police. The Honourable MP has been misinformed on this note.

Mr. Speaker, the benefits for the merger would amongst others be:-

* A single national Police Service and therefore uniform standards;
* Accurate crime statistics; and
* Increased manpower for the Botswana Police.

I thank you Mr. Speaker.