Parliament turns down proposed amendments to anti-smoking law

SANA'A, Feb. 09
(Saba) - The Parliament turned down on Monday amendments proposed by the government
to the anti-smoking
law after discussing the government note that suggested that the draft law be
applied and assessed in the reality before any amendments brought in. In its
explanatory note,
the government said the draft law was a priority to applying the anti-smoke law and
dealing with smoke affects at a time when its efforts continue to reduce the rate of
Yemeni
smokers through effective interventions to improve health styles particularly among
the young and youth. In this regard, major efforts are being exerted to tackle
smoking
through motivating self abilities to boost health of the young and youth and
reducing tobacco consumption rates with price measures that studies confirmed their
success.
Parliament also listened to the letter of head of the Supreme National
Anti-Corruption Commission concerning requested amendments to some articles of the
anti-corruption
law 39, 2006. The council pointed to difficulties facing the SNACC due to the gaps
in the law text that have negatively affected the commission and meeting its goals.
Moreover,
the council reviewed the explanatory note of the Transportation Minister about the
seaports law with the aim to establish a framework with which the concerned
authorities
can assume their responsibilities for planning, constructing, repairing and running
the national seaports effectively. The minister also stressed the importance of
encouraging
the development of seaport authorities with the private sector engaged in providing
infrastructure to ensure fair competition and better services by seaports. The draft
law
included rules for developing seaports and license and employee rights measures,
providing services for ships, freight issues, port and professional safety and
environment
protection. The draft law was turned over to a special committee to study it and
present the results to the council. During Monday's session, Parliament also
discussed the
joint report of the Service and Development and Oil and Minerals Committees on a
loan agreement signed with the Arab Fund for Social and Economic Development to
finance rural
road project at a cost of $ 52 million. The MPs voted on related recommendations,
urging discussing and voting on the agreement to take place in the next session. FR