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CDWS holds dialogue on transparency and good governance |22 June 2017

 

 

 

The Citizens Democracy Watch Seychelles (CDWS) last Friday held a dialogue as part of its efforts to enhance citizens’ participation in the governance of public affairs.

The meeting was held at Care House, Freedom Square and saw the participation of representatives of various non- governmental organisations, associations and the media.

Guest speaker was Matthew Gerdin, political officer from the United States embassy for Seychelles.

The session enabled delegates to examine the concepts of transparency and good governance, the benefits of such concepts when they are present in a democracy and how their lack in both the public and private sectors can have negative impact on people and institutions of a country.

Many pertinent points were raised and discussed by the delegates and through a video on the subject it was revealed that transparency and good governance are fundamental for the proper management of public affairs and to maintain trust in government.

Transparency includes public access to information affecting public welfare and the public should have the opportunity to come forward to propose laws and regulations.

Transparency is also a means for the public and the media to hold the government accountable when not acting in the public interest.

Despite access to internet and social media, too many government departments still withhold access to information, and that the absence of transparency and good governance permits illegal and unlawful actions and unaccountability.

It is worth noting that the National Assembly will soon debate on a new bill on access to information the aim of which is to foster good governance through enhancing transparency, accountability, integrity in public service and administration, participation of persons in public affairs, including exposing corruption, recognising the right to information envisaged in the Constitution.

As for corruption, the video stated it undermines trust in public institutions and that it requires a collective and political will to tackle corruption.

In his remarks Mr Gerdin questioned the legal system in place if it is set up to deal with corruption issues. He mentioned the electoral process in the US where people have Public Trust lawsuit procedure where people can file a case on behalf of someone else.

“For example, if the group sees there are unnecessary voting barriers, whether its identification measures, whether its location etc.. this organisation can file a lawsuit on behalf of those individuals, whereas in other jurisdictions, the victims need to file the lawsuit themselves,” he said. He was just comparing examples where ordinary people can access the law.

How do we combat corruption? We have entities, anti corruption bodies, the three branches of government that put pressure on each other, special prosecutions and parallel structures like in the United States.

“But the fundamental bedrock of democracy are those checks and balances,” he said.

 

 

 

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