By Ned Gagahe

The debate on the Motion of No Confidence (MONC) in Parliament has been postponed to Monday, December 16, with Parliament prioritizing the completion of the budget process first, according to Clerk to Parliament, Jefferson Hallu.

Speaking to Island Sun yesterday, Clerk Hallu explained that the MONC will follow the standard parliamentary procedure. The mover of the motion will present it, Members of Parliament (MPs) will debate it, and then it will be put to a vote.

Hallu noted that under the Constitution, the motion requires an absolute majority to pass—at least 26 votes. Unlike routine votes in Parliament, the MONC vote will be conducted via roll call to ensure accuracy in the tally.

When asked about the delay in tabling the motion, which matured on Thursday, Hallu clarified that while the MONC was due to be presented on Friday, there was no constitutional or procedural barrier preventing its deferral.

He stated that the decision to delay the debate was made to avoid leaving the country in suspense over the national budget, which took precedence.

“The idea is that there is a general consensus within Parliament to pass the budget first,” Hallu said.

He emphasized the importance of completing the budget process without interruption before addressing the MONC in Parliament.

The rescheduled debate on the MONC is now set for Monday, December 16, with attention shifting to how the proceedings will unfold following the budget’s passage.

Meanwhile, Parliament officially passed the 2025 Appropriation Bill 2024 yesterday. The Bill allocates over $4.83 billion for government operations in the upcoming fiscal year.

The approved legislation authorizes a total expenditure of Four Billion, Eight Hundred and Thirty-Two Million, Two Hundred and Seventy-Three Thousand, Seven Hundred and Thirty-Nine Dollars ($4,832,273,739).

This budget will support the Government’s operations and services for the fiscal year 2025.