After 6 years in office and an additional 500 million dollars in debt, what does this ULP government have to show for itself – the national stadium (in the form of grass), the national library (in the form of grass), a partially built new prison (which may be unnecessary if convicted criminals no longer have to stay in prison) and not much else except, rapidly rising crime and teenage pregnancy rates. The ULP government management of the economy is a big disappointment.

SVG needs better transparency rules relating to government activities, especially as the NDP are failing in its duties as the Opposition and not properly auditing government financial activities. SVG needs transparency to give the impression externally that SVG truly is corruption-free. The lack of foreign investment in areas other than tourism in SVG is evidence that SVG’s transparency is inadequate. Lack of good governance can stagnate the private sector and depress the weak SVG economy.

Citizens too rarely understand how government decisions are made. This lack of transparency prevents the public from actively participating in government and from raising questions or protesting unfair or ill-advised decisions. Transparency is a way of protecting fairness and ensuring the common good.

When government meetings are open to the public, when budgets and financial statements may be reviewed by anyone, when decisions are open to discussion, they are seen as transparent. Modern democracy builds on participation of the people. Elections are no longer the only way for people to rule themselves, as democracy is a continual process. When decisions are taken behind locked doors, people have very few possibilities to influence the politics between the elections.

Democracy depends on a knowledgeable citizenry whose access to information enables them to participate more fully in public life, help determine priorities for public spending and receive equal access to justice. SVG has a passed-its-use-by-date form of democracy.

In SVG barriers to access exist, such as:

low-income individuals are less likely to own computers and that impedes their access to government services that are available on line.

a person using a wheelchair cannot even enter the parliament. SVG need a Disabilities Act that removes barriers to the full participation of people with disabilities.

SVG needs laws ensuring public access to government documents and records, such a proper Freedom of Information Act. Public records must be publicly accessible and detailed, such as VINLEC accounts. It is preposterous to not have notes in accounts on amounts as large as 21 million dollars. The ULP regime can’t and shouldn’t hide behind the tagline of ‘national security’ for unnecessary secrecy.

When military-aspiring authorities classify their plans and decisions as secret, transparency is absent. This is negative as it can lead to secrecy, corruption and even a military dictatorship.

SVG Green Party advocates a greater system of transparency within government and would introduce a policy of disclosure of income and assets for members of government and people in senior public jobs. In view of the present global economy, the lack of openness of this ULP regime and the growing gap between the rich and the poor in SVG, there has never been a greater need to focus on transparency.