War vets bill in final stages

CABINET has referred the War Veterans’ Bill to its legal committee before the Minister of Veterans’ Affairs table it in the National Assembly for debate.

A Cabinet statement said a workshop was held on the bill earlier this year which extensively deliberated on it and consensus was reached on “problematic areas”. It did not elaborate on what these problem areas were.The statement said a second draft of the bill was subsequently prepared and submitted to Cabinet for consideration and approval was given to refer it to the legal committee.The War Veterans’ Bill provides for the powers and functions of the Minister responsible for veterans’ affairs and the establishment of a veterans’ fund for the provision of assistance to veterans and their dependants.It also provides for the registration of veterans and their dependants and for the establishment of projects for their benefit.Once the bill becomes an act, a constitution will be drafted and the functions of the veterans’ board and veterans’ appeal board will be defined.It did not elaborate on what these problem areas were.The statement said a second draft of the bill was subsequently prepared and submitted to Cabinet for consideration and approval was given to refer it to the legal committee.The War Veterans’ Bill provides for the powers and functions of the Minister responsible for veterans’ affairs and the establishment of a veterans’ fund for the provision of assistance to veterans and their dependants.It also provides for the registration of veterans and their dependants and for the establishment of projects for their benefit.Once the bill becomes an act, a constitution will be drafted and the functions of the veterans’ board and veterans’ appeal board will be defined.