Libyan congresses wrap up debates on oil plan

Tue Feb 24, 2009 5:57am GMT
 

TRIPOLI (Reuters) - Libyans ended meetings on Monday to discuss a plan by leader Muammar Gaddafi to disband the government and hand the country's oil money directly to its people, state media said.

Gaddafi argues corruption is so deeply entrenched in the government that the only way to cure Libya of graft is to disband the ministries and hand out more than $30 billion in oil revenue this year to its 5 million people.

The outcome of the debates by Libya's Basic People Congresses (LBPCs) would be known early next month when the 300-member General People's Congress, the equivalent of a national parliament, is widely expected to announce that Gaddafi's plan was overwhelmingly endorsed.

Gaddafi's supporters control the 468 congresses and the General People's Congress constitutes their umbrella.

The LBPCs are effectively the top executive and legislative bodies which vote on laws and government policy. In practice, however, Gaddafi decides on key policies like oil money.

About one million Libyans ranked on the bottom rung might be entitled to receive up to 30,000 dinars each per year, according to government's estimates debated at the congresses.

Around half a million people on the top rung might get 1,288 dinars each.

Photo
Harvard Business School students cheer during their graduation ceremonies in Boston
The African brain drain

Africa is suffering from a massive brain drain and it’s questionable whether enough of those highly motivated students studying in America will return home in large enough numbers to really make a difference...  Blog 

 
SLA rebels attend training in Mestre area in Western Sudan.
Is Sudan’s Darfur crisis getting too much attention?

Activists often say that the world is not paying enough attention to Sudan’s Darfur crisis. But could the opposite be true?  Blog 

 
Pope Benedict XVI waves during the Angelus prayer at the end of a mass for the closing of African Synod in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican
Vatican synod urges corrupt African leaders to quit

Roman Catholic bishops called on corrupt Catholic leaders in Africa on Friday to repent or resign for giving the continent and the Church a bad name.   Blog 

 
South Africa's head coach Carlos Parreira looks on during the Nelson Mandela Challenge soccer match between South Africa and US at Ellispark stadium in Johannesburg
Should South Africa have gone local?

Carlos Alberto Parreira has returned as South Africa's senior national soccer team coach. He quit in April 2008 after his wife was found to have cancer...  Blog 

 
A woman carries a box of soyabean oil during a food distribution in Buge village, Wolayita region in southern Ethiopia
Why is the West still feeding Ethiopia?

It has now been 25 years since more than 1 million Ethiopians died as those of us lucky enough to live in the rich world sat transfixed in front of our television screens.   Blog 

 
Photo
Does the “billionth African” mean boon or burden?

One day this year, in all probability, the “billionth African” will have been born, a milestone that will only benefit the poorest continent if it can get its act together and unify its piecemeal markets.  Blog 

 
Powered by Reuters AlertNet. AlertNet provides news, images and insight from the world's disasters and conflicts and is brought to you by Reuters Foundation.