The Joint Unions say GOB is not committed to good governance

Good Governance – that’s what the Joint Unions have been demanding from the government since the Administration took office. The Union says that the Briceno Administration has not been preparing and introducing adequate legislation to comply with the United Nations Convention Against Corruption “UNCAC”. During today’s press conference, the PSU’s Second Vice-President, Phillip Tate, explained the need for the government to implement specific legislation geared at tackling and investigating corruption. Tate says that GOB is not complying with its promise of good governance and is yet to implement policies such as the unjust enrichment act and the assets recovery act.

Phillip Tate, Second Vice-President, Public Service Union: “Our issue is that you’re in power now so you have an opportunity to be able to address this specific regulations, to be able to ensure that the people of this country can have proper accountability of all our pennies and how it’s spent. The Prime Minister calls us to a meeting, he sets the time, how long we will meet, the discussion and how it will take place and to a certain degree as you have seen where the issues came out was that majority of the issues were “no” versus having a conversation or a discussion and at times we figure that to be a little bit rude at times and to be able to ensure that we can have a true conversation as it pertains to these governance issues that are front and center every single day for all Belizeans. If this government does not wish to comply or have a discussion on existing legislation how then can there be any confidence in them in introducing and enhancing the enforcement of new good governance legislation ? It is 2023 and some of these legislations are extremely important for the management of our pennies in this country. The joint union in conjunction with the NTUCB continues to call for campaign finance laws to curb vote buying, nepotism and corruption in tendering and procurement process between government and the financiers of political parties. I don’t need to say anything else about that that is clear in itself what has been transpiring.”