Belize Launches New Good Governance Program

The Government of Belize has launched a new initiative titled “Strengthening Governance for Transparency and Accountability in Belize.” Developed through collaboration with the Ministry of Public Service, the US Embassy, and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the program aims to improve good governance and strengthen the fight against corruption.  News Five’s Britney Gordon looks at the pros and cons.

 

Britney Gordon, Reporting

On Monday, the Ministry of Public Service kicked off its annual Anti-Corruption Month, emphasising the importance of government transparency and strengthening the fight against corruption. Today, the launch of the Good Governance Program further reinforced this mission. Minister of Public Service Henry Charles Usher outlined the goals of the new initiative.

 

Henry Charles Usher, Minister of Public Servoce

“There are many objectives, but the key core objectives are one, to build capacity in the public service when it comes to good governance issues, two, to build capacity as well and to do administrative law training for the Public Service Commission, for admin officers, CEOs.  And three, the ultimate objective is to build and develop the good governance agenda. So this project funds coming from  CARSI, is hoping to achieve those over the next twenty-four months.”

 

Earlier this year, the government received a two hundred fifty-thousand dollar grant to adapt solutions to address anti-corruption through the passage of legislation and capacity building of government entities. It focuses on building the capacity of public servants, civil society, academia, and media while strengthening the Public Service Commission’s ability to handle regulatory violations. The Good Governance Unit in Belize worked closely with the United Nations Development Program to create the project. Michael Lund, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative, told us that the launch of the project aligned with the celebration of International United Nations Day.

 

Michael Lund, Dep. Resident Rep., UNDP

 “On this UN day, the twenty-fourth of October that we are celebrating United Nations development program is present in the one hundred seventy countriesand territories. And we have been in Belize for over thirty years. Where we support mainly now the beliefs in good governance and inclusive growth as one area and climate change as the other area. Those are our big focus areas. So this project or this project that we are launching today really fits in with the good governance portfolio that we’re having where we are trying to support the government in strengthening its good governance institutions and anti corruption efforts.”

 

By promoting behavioural change and accountability, the initiative seeks to enhance transparency, reduce corruption, and build public trust in government institutions. A monitoring and evaluation process will be set up to assess the progress of the project.

 

Michael Lund

“So this has a twenty-four month timeline and what we’re trying to do is strengthen the capacities through training and institution building on  twofold. One is the internal institutions and government that keeps a check  on on good processes and ethics in the civil service.  the other part is to train and be part of the civil society and the media. So you as watchdogs can keep an eye on the government, can keep an eye on the public service so we can help make sure that it’s clean, not corrupt, and as efficient as possible.”

 

The final phase of the project will be to create a National Good Governance Agenda to guide the next five years of governing to ensure that good governance remains consistent. Britney Gordon for News Five.