Anti-corruption stance key in picking leaders of democratic states – Dr. Ashni Singh

Jun 26, 2022 News

---

By Zena Henry

Kaieteur News – Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh has asserted that the ability of democratic governments to be transparent and open, will very much contribute to their suitability for re-election. The senior government member made the statement when the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance held an anti-corruption framework training workshop at the Grand Coastal Hotel yesterday. The event was well attended by members of the diplomatic community, representatives of foreign developmental agencies, senior state officials such as Police Commissioner (ag) Clifton Hicken, Chief Justice (ag) Roxanne George-Wilshire, civil society groups and transparency advocates.

The workshop was intended for various stakeholders to collectively acquaint themselves with the instruments that constitute the nation’s anti-corruption legal framework, while understanding their connections and roles within the whole. It was stated that under the stewardship of Minister Gail Teixeira, the Parliamentary Affairs and Governance Ministry recognised the need to have comprehensive documentation highlighting the nation’s elaborate anti-corruption framework; the relevant agencies, committees, anti-corruption treaties signed on to and other bodies that contribute directly or indirectly to the structure. As such, the Cooperative Republic of Guyana Anti-corruption framework (2022) was developed.
Minister Singh noted, however, that his government is fully committed to the importance of the fight against corruption in all of it forms. “We believe equally, that one of most effective instruments in the fight against corruption is openness, transparency and accountability in government.”
“We equally believe that open and transparent and accountable government is an absolutely essential prerequisite in democratic governance, and we believe that democracy goes hand in hand with openness transparency and accountability.” The minister said that a government who subscribes to the norms of democracy must answer to its electorate which it must serve, “demonstrably”.
“It must present itself to that electorate and convince that electorate that it is worthy of re-election.” That, Singh said, is the nature of democratic governance and cannot be disregarded given the necessity of openness, transparency and accountability. A government that fails in this regard does so at its own peril; increasing the unavoidable consequence of eventually making itself unelectable.

In Guyana’s own political governance and economic history, the country’s connection to openness and accountability across successive government has been seen, Singh pointed out. As for his political party, their commitment to anti-corruption both in and out of government has been shown before and after 1992 as well as before and after 2015; “the principle of submitting yourself to the will of the people and respecting the will of people when they speak. My party and my government is firmly committed to that,” and therefore prides itself on its unshakeable obligation to be open and transparent.
At the constitutional level, government would have enacted a raft of constitutional amendments in 2001 that significantly strengthened the governance frame work and reinforced the institutional architecture required for oversight and accountability. The convening of the National Coordinating Committee (NCC) is important in ensuring coordinating and sensitisation across agencies and beyond. As such, “We are under no illusion that our work is remotely done,” the minister charged. Having played an integral role in many of the current anti-corruption legislation, he said that work will continue in strengthening, elaborating and addresses the legislations that service to protect the nation’s openness and integrity.
Minister Teixeira said that yesterday’s workshop had great significance in highlighting government’s commitment to not only the constitutional rule of law, democracy and human rights, but to its commitment to strengthening the mechanisms and measures for greater transparency and accountability, inclusion and participation. It is important that to recognise that trust and confidence in institutions and democratic governance is critical for managing a society in an organised manner where people have opportunities for representation to seek redress, expose issues and to have them corrected. The minister continued that nations are judged by the effectiveness of their laws and institutions that build trust.
The Ministry’s NCC therefore deals with the governance issues regarding democratic governance and obligations as a nation to the treaties signed onto. Among those treaties signed on to are the Inter- American Convention against corruption in 2001, the UN Convention against corruption 2008, Lima Commitment, Democratic Governance against Corruption 2018, the UN General Assembly Special session against corruption 2021 and more recently, and the Commonwealth Caribbean association of Integrity Commissions anti-corruption bodies 2022, among others. The country also signed on to the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) in 2017, while joining the Egmont Group of Financial Intelligence Units is currently being discussed at the Cabinet level.
The minister pointed to among other constitutional agencies, the PPC, the Auditor General’s Office, the police, public and teaching service commissions, the ombudsman, and Integrity Commission. Minister Teixeira pointed to the framework’s “power sharing model” where she said the Opposition Leader for instance, is involved in recommending certain appointments to the President as further proof of this government’s commitment to transparency and openness.

 

---

---