Georgetown: Government’s Code of Conduct is currently open for public consultations in an effort to create a version that conform with international best practices.
In an interview with the Government Information Agency (GINA), Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo explained that in an effort to ensure a thorough and comprehensive Code of Conduct which benefits from the widest possible input, the Integrity Commission has been asked to assist in the process of acquiring further comments.
“We have asked the Integrity Commission to help us in the process of getting more submissions, criticisms, observations, and additions so we can make the integrity code of conduct, if I may call it that, perhaps one of the best in the world. We want to learn from best practices in other countries,” Prime Minister Nagamootoo advised.
The Government has received feedback from the Guyana Bar Association and the Guyana Human Rights Association. Citizens’ inputs are also important. They are thus urged to participate in the public consultations.
This process, he said will decide whether the Code of Conduct should be merged with the integrity legislation provisions, or whether it should be taken to parliament as a legislation by itself. "Whatever the best practice would be around the Caribbean and the rest of the Commonwealth in particular, we would want to follow those practices.”
The Code of Conduct will provide guidance on the moral qualities that should govern the conduct of Ministers, Members of Parliament and public office holders in the discharge of their duties to their constituents, and the public at large.
It is also meant to reinforce public confidence in the way in which Ministers and public office holders perform those duties.
The Prime Minister explained that he had recently commissioned a sub-committee comprising, the Governance Department together with representatives from stakeholder representative organisations, and the Ministry of Natural Resources.
“The Code of Conduct emanated from the time when Minister (Raphael) Trotman was Minister of Governance. He is chairing the sub-committee to receive and review all recommendations,” he said.
The Code of Conduct is based on 10 principles – Accountability, Dignity, Diligence, Duty, Honour, Integrity, Loyalty, Objectivity, Responsibility and Transparency – and is a Coalition Government manifesto promise.
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