The annual Taking Parliament to the People, whereby the Provincial Legislature holds a full sitting in an Eastern Cape town, will be held in Alice from 5-7 October at the Lovedale FET College.

DA Chief Whip Pine Pienaar says this is an opportunity for local residents to meet and interact with the MEC’s of the various departments as well as the members of the provincial legislature.

“This is a chance for us to promote and entrench democracy,” he said.“People who cannot come to Bhisho are given the prospect to see democracy at work.  The programme for the week is focussed on direct participation from the public on issues that they can change to better their lives.  These are issues that affect people directly.

“We encourage people from all walks of life that live in Alice and the surrounding towns to use this opportunity to interact with government.  It is important to remember that this is a programme of the government as a whole, not of the ruling party only,” he said.

The programme includes the tabling of various committee reports as well as Annual Reports by all the provincial government departments.  The public will be given the opportunity to comment and ask questions about the various reports.  The full programme is as follows:

Tuesday, 5 October 2010

08:00-08:30                                                                                         Media lock-up

08:30-11:00                                                                                         Party Caucuses

11:00 Plenary:

11:00-11:20                         (1)          Presentation of Report of Portfolio Committee  on Education.

11:20-12:00                         (a)          Questions & comments by the public on the report.

12:00-13:00                         (b)          Replies by Members & MEC’s to Questions & Comments.

14:15-14:25                         (2)          Presentation of Report of Portfolio Committee on Health.

14:25-14:40                         (a)          Questions & comments by the public on the report.

14:40-15:00                         (b)          Replies by Members & MEC’s to Questions & Comments.

15:00- adj.                           (3)          Tabling of Annual Reports.

Wednesday, 6 October 2010

11:00 Plenary:

11:05-12:00                      (1)                                             Questions for oral reply.

12:00-12:20                         (2)          Presentation of Report of Portfolio Committee  on Agriculture.

12:20-13:00                         (a)          Questions & comments by the public on the report.

14:00-15:00                         (b)          Replies by Members & MEC’s to Questions & Comments.

15:00-15:20                         (3)          Presentation of Report of Portfolio Committee on Economic Affairs.

15:20-16:00                         (a)          Questions & comments by the public on the report.

16:00-17:00                         (b)          Replies by Members & MEC’s to Questions & Comments.

Thursday, 7 October 2010

10:00     Plenary:

10:05-10:25                         (1).         Presentation of Report of Portfolio Committee on Roads & Public Works.

10:25-11:05                         (a)          Questions & comments by the public on the report.

11:05-12:00                         (b)          Replies by Members & MEC’s to Questions & Comments.

12:00-12:20                         (2)          Presentation of Report of Portfolio Committee on Transport.

12:20-13:00                         (a)          Questions & comments by the public on thereport.

14:00-14:30                         (b)          Replies by Members &  MEC’s to Questions & Comments.

14:30-15:00                         (3)          Presentation of Report of Portfolio Committee on Local Government & Traditional Affairs.

15:00-15:30                         (a)          Questions & comments by the public on the Report.

15:30-16:00                         (b)          Replies by Members & MEC’s to Questions & Comments.

16:00-17:30                         Debate of Portfolio Committee Reports on Education, Health, Agriculture, Economic Affairs, Roads & Public Works, Transport and Local Government & Traditional Affairs.