In its New Year’s message, the Alliance For Change (AFC) said that the party will in 2014 continue their incomplete agenda of waging the fight against corruption and advocating the need for good governance.
It said that 2013 had been challenging for most Guyanese with alarmingly high levels of domestic violence, affecting mainly women and the high incidence of road fatalities, which have taken many valuable lives, including the youngest and brightest minds. The message said that among the hallmarks of action that the AFC took to enhance democracy in 2013 was the fight against corruption and advocacy for good governance.
It said that its shouts have been loud and resounding resulting in the many revelations of corruption in the management of the national assets by the Government.
According to the AFC, this fight was vindicated with the pronouncements heard from Transparency International, in US State Department reports, from the diplomatic missions and the Auditor General.
It argued that its stance in Parliament has been based on these principles as it sought to bring the Government to account to Parliament. The party added that it has also adopted several issues, including the need for the establishment of a Public Procurement Commission and amendments to the Fiscal Management and Accountability Act to ensure financial accountability of the Judiciary and Parliament. The AFC stated that it took strong positions on the need for state funds held by NICIL to be deposited and accounted for in the Consolidated Fund, and that both the Integrity and the Ethnic Relations Commissions should be fully operationalized.
The party says it has also advocated that the positions of Chancellor and Chief Justice be filled by confirmed appointees and most importantly has been consistent over the years with calls for the holding of Local Government Elections which it said will open up a new vista for the people’s participation.
In 2014 it says it will also continue the fight for a living wage, and that monies voted for increases in wages are specifically quantified in the next budget. It is the party’s hope that greater respect for collective bargaining and consultation with the unions on the welfare of their members and without government making arbitrary awards will take place.
The AFC says it will continue to advance the issues the Guyanese people have asked them to raise on their behalf – a reduction in the economic pressures placed on their pockets, garbage free communities for children to grow up in, jobs for the young people and a livable wage for all.
In 2014 the party will lobby hard to ensure that the state media will be opened up to give all organizations access to this ‘national’ resource as happens in most democracies across the globe and that coverage of parliamentary proceedings will be carried live to better inform the people of Guyana and to eliminate the cloak and dagger approach.
