THE country needs to move on from the Section 34 proclamation issue, since there are more important matters of State, including the passage of the budget and other legislation.

This was stated yesterday by Leader of Government Business, Dr Roodal Moonilal, who added that Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar had nothing to add to the debate over the issue, since Attorney General Anand Ramlogan had said enough.

The section was repealed last week after it was discovered that Section 34 had been secretly proclaimed on August 30 in the midst of Independence celebrations, and allowed at least 19 persons charged in the Piarco Airport Terminal fraud case to file legal action seeking their discharge and not guilty verdicts.

Among them are UNC financiers, businessmen Ish Galbaransingh and Steve Ferguson.

Moonilal also said that yesterday's march through the streets of Port of Spain by members of the People's National Movement (PNM) and other persons in protest of Government's handling of Section 34 of the Administration of Justice (Indictable Proceedings) Act was political.

Moonilal spoke with reporters yesterday at a Primary Schools Essay Writing Project Awards Ceremony held by the Land Settlement Agency on the compound of the National Academy for the Performing Arts South Campus in San Fernando.

Asked whether Ramlogan or Justice Minister Herbert Volney should resign as a result of the fiasco, Moonilal said, "Just last week we had this matter vented in the Parliament for 28 hours. We had debate on this and the AG spoke in both houses. I would have hope that by now the matter would be rested. The Leader of the Opposition of course is leading a march and he will continue I am sure, because it is a political issue. But I am hoping that we can move on".

Moonilal, the Minister of Housing and the Environment, added, "we have the budget upon us in a few days. We have other important legislation".

He said that the legislation included the Securities Exchange Bill, Insurance Bill, and Beverage Container Bill.

Moonilal said he was "moving quickly as Leader of Government business into the budget, and into some important matter that we must get debated and resolved before December, so that (Opposition Leader Dr Keith) Rowley is free to continue that national contention, but we have to move on with our work".

Moonilal said he saw no purpose in yesterday's march from the Red House to President's House, Port of Spain.

Moonilal said that Ramlogan gave a 45-page speech on Section 34 in the Parliament last week.

"I don't know what else the PM can add. I don't know what the PM can subtract.

"If the PM really speaks, is really to repeat what the AG said and that is on public record."