National Assembly Vice President, Mr Sommad Pholsena, gives an address on the opening day of the current debate session.

NA urges govt to find solutions to country’s battered economy
 
The Standing Committee of the National Assembly (NA) has called on the government to urgently tackle the country’s economic problems, with rampant inflation inflicting hardship on large numbers of people.
Speaking on the opening day of the 5th ordinary session of the National Assembly’s 9th legislature, the parliamentary body’s Vice President, Mr Sommad Pholsena, urged the government to take strong action to resolve the ongoing social and economic issues affecting people’s lives.
The government must lower inflation and curb the rise in prices by defining a comprehensive system of measures covering all related areas, including currency exchange rates, the budget, the production of goods, and trade.
Inflation was recorded at 12.81 percent in May 2022 before climbing to 23.61 percent in June, 25.62 percent in July, 30.01 percent in August, 34.05 percent in September, 36.75 percent in October, 38.46 percent in November, and 39.27 percent in December.
The NA Standing Committee also advised the government to create more jobs, ensure a balanced labour supply, and fulfil the country’s development needs.
Problems involving volunteer teachers and medical staff must also be resolved, Mr Sommad said.
In addition, the government should introduce effective measures to raise more people out of poverty and bring down the cost of living, which is constantly increasing.
People also have difficulties when applying for passports and getting land titles, with these processes taking an unacceptably long time. In general, public service delivery remains very slow, the NA Vice President said.
The authorities concerned must also speed up efforts to tackle the drug trade, lower the crime rate, especially robberies, and reduce the number of road accidents.
In addition, the government should take action to resolve environmental issues, such as illicit mineral extraction, encroachment onto land owned by the state and land use rights holders, and the destruction of forests and water sources.
Air quality must also be improved, especially in light of the unprecedented pollution experienced earlier in the year, and authorities should take steps to prevent and combat the effects of drought, floods and other natural disasters.
Mr Sommad also advised that central and local land title registration must be comprehensively overhauled so that the process is made simpler and takes less time than at present.

By Times Reporters
 (Latest Update June 28, 2023)