Return to the article
outline
[Allocation of Foreign Assistance]
[55.7% of the voters in the August 27, 2002, referendum voted
in favor of this amendment. A 75% affirmative vote was required to pass
the amendment, so the amendment failed.]
12. Committee Proposal No. 01-24:
This proposed amendment would amend Section 1(b) of Article
XII of the Constitution to require all foreign financial assistance to be
deposited into a special fund and allocated between the national government
and the four state governments pursuant to negotiated agreement. This applies
to foreign aid grants not specifically earmarked for projects.
Under the current Constitutional provision, funds not
specifically earmarked for projects should be divided equally among the four
states and the national government.
Top of page
ANALYSIS:
The current Constitutional provision has been bypassed,
circumvented, avoided and simply ignored. This provision is rendered inoperative
because almost all foreign aid grants are provided specifically for certain
projects. In cases where it would apply, the national government and the states
would make sure that a formula was provided in the agreement for dividing the
fund. In one or two cases, the national government just simply ignored the
requirement of this provision.
This proposal will ensure that the constitutional provision
regarding unspecified foreign aid grants is in compliance with current
practices. This proposal will require negotiated agreements between the national
government and the states in cases of unspecified foreign aid grants.
This proposed amendment is needed to incorporate the current
practice in the Constitution and delete the one that no one follows.
© John R. Haglelgam, March 4, 2002
Top of page
Return to the article
outline
