"Extraordinary facts require exceptional responses"

The Government put forward a draft bill to set up an administrative simplification scheme to remove constraints and cut down on timeframes to accelerate the reconstruction of estate and infrastructure in the regions hit by storm Kristin.

The Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Carlos Abreu Amorim stressed that this time requires "efficacy, swiftness, presence and active solidarity" in the State, as issuing a disaster status is not enough for all the answers required and this bill, in articulation with others approved by the Government, will allow it.  

"Extraordinary facts require exceptional responses" Carlos Abreu Amorim said, adding that the draft bill allows for extremely urgent expropriations, simplifying reports, waiving public domain occupation titles, a swift scheme for works in riverbeds and banks, and intervention in forest management.

As, in certain cases these are matters for which Parliament holds exclusive powers, the Government proposes this exceptional scheme "territorially limited to the regions hit by the disaster, and temporary limited to one year". 

The Minister of Parliamentary Affairs noted that "the rule of Law is not incompatible with the exceptional and urgent nature" and stressed that "when faced with an anomalous scenario, the State’s action becomes more necessary and immediately demanded by society".

Carlos Abreu Amorim indicated that Parliament has a clear responsibility; approving the draft bill, since it has a direct impact on the lives of those who lost their homes, assets, businesses, and so many who unfortunately have the stability and dignity of their very own existence being threatened.

"What the people demand from the State is efficacy. It’s swiftness. It’s presence. It’s active solidarity", he claimed.