St. John’s, Antigua: The executive of the Antigua Labour Party (ALP) over the weekend gave provisional stamp of approval to the proposed code of conduct, sponsored by Chairman Gaston Browne, according to an Antigua Observer report.
The proposed document, which is currently in circulation, seeks to govern ALP officials in the political realm and the consequences for violating these policies. Browne, the main driver behind the proposed 12-point code of ethics, told the Observer that the executive’s stamp of approval is a significant headway in the party’s bid to have greater accountability in public office.
“The executive of the party unanimously agreed to a provisional approval pending a final approval which will take place at our next executive meeting which is scheduled for March 2, 2012,” Browne said.
The Observer said that ALP stalwarts were strongly resisting the move, criticising it as being merely mental gymnastics and not worth the paper on which it is written. The stalwarts maintained that the party should be addressing more pressing issues rather than considering a code.
Browne re-iterated that the document was very important and needed the approval of the executive members of the party. “I think the members of the executive understood the seriousness of it and it is not a publicity stunt. It is not mental gymnastics as one member said earlier. It is really a commitment to the people of this country to provide them with good governance,” Browne added.
The code also states that candidates should not conduct business with the government directly and are precluded from holding directorships in any company or firm including law firms. If the code is ratified by the ALP – the country’s oldest political party – it will become the first to do so, the Observer reported.
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